Edward “Ed” Orval Rice, 83, of Thorntown passed away on Friday, September 24. He was born on February 2, 1938 in Lebanon, Indiana. He was the son of Haven and Bessie Rice.
Ed graduated from Dover High School in 1956 and attended Purdue University. He returned home to run the family dairy farm. He married Judy (Bush) Rice on 1957 and they were married for 36 years before Judy passed away in 1993. They had three children. In 1994 Ed was married to Donna (Swank) Rice. They were married for 23 years before Donna’s death in 2017.
Ed ran the family farm before taking a job at the Lebanon branch of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) where he worked for many years as the branch manager.
Ed was an active member of Dover Christian Church and served as an elder for many years as well as being a Sunday school teacher and singing in the choir or leading worship. He was an avid antique collector, reader and an accomplished artist. When he wasn’t out antiquing you could find him in the endzone or courtside at Western Boone football & basketball games of which he was a proud supporter.
He is preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, his wife, Judy, and his wife, Donna, and grandson, Mitchell Rice.
Survivors include sons Doug (Mary) Rice of Jamestown and Dan (Lorrie) Rice of Thorntown, daughter Beth (Doug) Richardson of Lebanon, and step-children Teresa (Mike) Fisher of Lebanon, Michael (Diane) Swank of Thorntown and Becky (Willie) Smith of Thorntown. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Dover Christian Church, 955 State Road 75, Lebanon.
The funeral will be held on Saturday, October 2 at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior, at Dover Christian Church, followed by interment at Dover Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Dover Christian Church or Western Boone Athletics.
Final care of Ed has been entrusted to the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon. You are invited to visit the website where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message www.strawmyerdrury.com.
