Of Batavia, Age 88, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon October 27, 2010 at Buffalo General Hospital. He was born June 29, 1922 in Batavia son of the late Floyd & Marjorie (Hensel) Rice also preceded in death by a sister Alvira Graves. Mr. Rice was a WWII Veteran of the US Army Air Corp., serving as a flight instructor and pilot. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, an employee of Graham Manufacturing Co. for 41 years as a draftsman and retired as Chief Designer in 1986. A member of the Batavia Lions Club having served as a director and tail twister, life member of the Genesee County Fish & Game Protective Association (Godfrey's Pond), an umpire & member at the inception of Little League Baseball in Batavia, member and Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the City of Batavia.
Surviving is his beloved wife of 66 years Lillian (Nyquist) Rice of Batavia; loving children Karen Anne (Joseph) DeLeo of Ashburn Farm, VA and Richard (Margaret) Rice of Sharon, MA; 2 grandchildren Lucas & Katherine Rice along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will be present from 1-2:00 PM Sunday October 31, 2010 at the Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel, LLC 4120 West Main Street Road Batavia, New York 14020 where Funeral Services will immediately follow. Memorials in Ellie's memory can be made to the Batavia Lions Club PO Box 456 Batavia, New York 14021. Interment will be in Morganville Cemetery.
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE MICHAEL S. TOMASZEWSKI FUNERAL & CREMATION CHAPEL, LLC AT 4120 WEST MAIN STREET ROAD BATAVIA, NEW YORK 14020 ~ FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL MICHAEL AT (585)343-7500.
