John Wesley Rice, 84, of Morgantown, passed away on Jan. 15, 2020, at Mapleshire Nursing Home.
John was born on June 12, 1935, the son of the late Clarence and Dorothy Rice, of Canaan.
John graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1953. After working at General Industries in Lorain, Ohio, for a few years, he moved to Morgantown and was employed at Sterling Faucet for 39 years as a machinist. Once Sterling closed, John was hired at Mylan Pharmaceuticals, where he worked until the time of his retirement.
John enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, hunting and fishing, woodworking and his hunting cabin in Upshur County. He was a 50-year member of the Joseph W. Summers Lodge #173 AF&AM. He was a longtime member of the Dellslow Hunting and Fishing Club. He attended Burns Chapel United Methodist Church.
John’s greatest love was his wife of 64 years, Eleanor Murray Rice. They were blessed with four sons, Tim (wife Patty), Rod (companion Barb), Gregory (companion Sherrie) and Eric (wife Sarah); grandchildren: Erin Mandel, Jennifer, Rodney, Tyler, Lindsay, Caleb, Breanna and Evan Rice and Dustin Keener; along with ten great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Ernie Rice, and a sister, Edna Friend.
In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Brooke Rice; two brothers, Arthur Rice and Calvin Rice; and two sisters, Virginia Wilfong and Maxine Farrah.
The family would like to thank the staff at Mapleshire, Hospice Care, and friends Kate Keener and Kristi Chisler for their loving and considerate care for John.
Friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18. Visitation will continue from 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, until the time of the funeral service at 2 p.m. with Pastor Lynda Masters officiating. Interment will follow at Nicholson Chapel Cemetery.
Condolences:
hastingsfuneralhome.com
