Obituary for Bruce Odell Rice
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home
1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
RICE
Bruce Odell Rice was born on August 30, 1931 to Daniel Clifford (Jack) and Evelyn Valera (Anderson) Rice in Olustee. He passed away on January 28, 2017. A celebration of life service will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel with interment following at Prairie Hill Cemetery.
The family will greet friends at visitation from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Bruce started school at Prairie Hill and graduated from Duke in 1949. He married Dorothy Dene Marshall on August 27, 1950. Together they raised 4 sons before her death in 1994. On June 29, 1996 he married classmate Gail Eccles and they had 20 wonderful years together.
Bruce served his country by joining the United States Navy where he served until 1854 receiving an early discharge to attend college. He attended college at what was then Oklahoma A&M and graduated in 1958 as a member of the first graduating class of Oklahoma State University.
Bruce began his career in education in Alamogordo, New Mexico where he taught science and assisted in coaching. He taught and coached there until 1962. They then moved back to Duke where he taught school and served as principal for 22 years until his retirement in 1984. During those 22 years he touched the lives of many students.
Bruce was also a farmer and continued to farm after his retirement from school. He did custom swathing and hay baling until he was almost 85.
Bruce was a life-long member of the Duke United Methodist Church where he faithfully served in any capacity he was needed. Bruce was in charge of recording church attendance and would always add one to his count to include the Lord.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, a son Gary, a daughter-in-law Linda Bradford-Rice and a daughter Vickie Hill.
He is survived by his wife Gail of the home, Randy and wife Lea Ann, Dean and wife Kelly all of Duke and Victor and Sheila Potter of Effingham, Illinois, Mark Eccles of Oklahoma City, Roger Eccles and wife Sue of Bethany, and Ken Hill of Ruston, Louisiana. Bruce also leaves grandchildren Nathan Rice and wife Rhonda of Tahlequah, Valerie and husband Brad Jones of Park Hill, Oklahoma, Dara Trent and husband Josh of Purcell, Eric Rice and Tori Stevenson of Oklahoma City, Kevin Rice of Duke, Douglas Battles and wife Heather of Canute, Robert Battles and Amy Bunch of Elk City, Mason and Kylee Rice of Duke, Casey Dunn of Warsaw, Indiana, Tawny and husband Mitch Mason of Fesseden, North Dakota and Tessa Hatch of Hurdsfield, North Dakota, Erin Williams and husband Marvin of Collinsville, Ryan Eccles and wife Lindy of Yukon and Miranda Hill of Waltham, Maryland. He is also survived by 21 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the duke School Foundation.
For those not able to attend the service, Lowell-Tims will provide a live web-cast of the service beginning at 1:58 p.m. Wednesday. Go to www.Lowell-Tims.com and click on obituaries. Then click on Bruce Rice. There will be a large area inviting you to join the web-cast.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
01/31/2017
5:30 PM
7:30 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus
02/01/2017
2:00 PM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel
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1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
RICE
Bruce Odell Rice was born on August 30, 1931 to Daniel Clifford (Jack) and Evelyn Valera (Anderson) Rice in Olustee. He passed away on January 28, 2017. A celebration of life service will take place on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel with interment following at Prairie Hill Cemetery.
The family will greet friends at visitation from 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Bruce started school at Prairie Hill and graduated from Duke in 1949. He married Dorothy Dene Marshall on August 27, 1950. Together they raised 4 sons before her death in 1994. On June 29, 1996 he married classmate Gail Eccles and they had 20 wonderful years together.
Bruce served his country by joining the United States Navy where he served until 1854 receiving an early discharge to attend college. He attended college at what was then Oklahoma A&M and graduated in 1958 as a member of the first graduating class of Oklahoma State University.
Bruce began his career in education in Alamogordo, New Mexico where he taught science and assisted in coaching. He taught and coached there until 1962. They then moved back to Duke where he taught school and served as principal for 22 years until his retirement in 1984. During those 22 years he touched the lives of many students.
Bruce was also a farmer and continued to farm after his retirement from school. He did custom swathing and hay baling until he was almost 85.
Bruce was a life-long member of the Duke United Methodist Church where he faithfully served in any capacity he was needed. Bruce was in charge of recording church attendance and would always add one to his count to include the Lord.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, a son Gary, a daughter-in-law Linda Bradford-Rice and a daughter Vickie Hill.
He is survived by his wife Gail of the home, Randy and wife Lea Ann, Dean and wife Kelly all of Duke and Victor and Sheila Potter of Effingham, Illinois, Mark Eccles of Oklahoma City, Roger Eccles and wife Sue of Bethany, and Ken Hill of Ruston, Louisiana. Bruce also leaves grandchildren Nathan Rice and wife Rhonda of Tahlequah, Valerie and husband Brad Jones of Park Hill, Oklahoma, Dara Trent and husband Josh of Purcell, Eric Rice and Tori Stevenson of Oklahoma City, Kevin Rice of Duke, Douglas Battles and wife Heather of Canute, Robert Battles and Amy Bunch of Elk City, Mason and Kylee Rice of Duke, Casey Dunn of Warsaw, Indiana, Tawny and husband Mitch Mason of Fesseden, North Dakota and Tessa Hatch of Hurdsfield, North Dakota, Erin Williams and husband Marvin of Collinsville, Ryan Eccles and wife Lindy of Yukon and Miranda Hill of Waltham, Maryland. He is also survived by 21 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the duke School Foundation.
For those not able to attend the service, Lowell-Tims will provide a live web-cast of the service beginning at 1:58 p.m. Wednesday. Go to www.Lowell-Tims.com and click on obituaries. Then click on Bruce Rice. There will be a large area inviting you to join the web-cast.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
01/31/2017
5:30 PM
7:30 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus
02/01/2017
2:00 PM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Chapel
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