Earl Samuel Rice died Wednesday, Dec. 17, surrounded by family
at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. He was 83.
Earl Samuel Rice
Earl Samuel Rice died Wednesday, Dec. 17, surrounded by family at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. He was 83.
Earl was born April 14, 1920 in Ulster, Penn., to Earl M. and Viola Issacs Rice. He lived in Ulster until he joined the Army during World War II, serving in England and France. He returned to Pennsylvania after being discharged from the Army, and married Esther Allen from their hometown of Ulster. He earned a bachelor’s in education from Millersville College, Penn., and a master’s of education at Pennsylvania State University.
After teaching industrial arts for six years at Dalmatia and East Smithfield, Penn., he and his family moved to California in 1957 where he taught industrial arts for 26 years in Salinas and Morgan Hill schools.
After retiring in 1984, he continued to use his woodworking skills on special projects for his church, friends and family.
Earl was a very active member of the Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church for 45 years. He loved to read and learn about a wide variety of subjects. In recent years he wrote stories of his youth and Army experiences. He also researched and wrote historical essays about WWII. After suffering a stroke several years ago, he joined the Garlicky Group of Poets where he regularly participated in poetry readings to restore his speech.
Earl remained very active through water aerobics and walking. As a WWII veteran, Earl participated in many veteran‚s functions including the annual Veteran’s Day observance in Morgan Hill. He was proud to be able to fit into his Army uniform.
Earl is survived by his wife, Esther; son Arthur and daughter-in-law June, grandchildren Ariel and Micah, all of Morgan Hill; son David Rice of Rocky Point, Oregon; daughter Patricia and son-in-law Mark Buettner of Klamath Falls, Oregon; relatives living around his birthplace in rural Pennsylvania including his sister Virginia Budman, sister Janice and brother-in-law Harold Kintner, brother Eugene, sister Sue and brother-in-law Dean Horning; Aunt Ellen Hodgson of Vestal, N.Y.; many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Earl proudly served his country, raised a family, taught thousands of students, continued to read and write his entire life, and was active in his church. He was an inspiration to his family and friends.
Memorial services will be held at Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3.
The family asks that any donations be made to Ulster Village Presbyterian Church, Ulster, PA 18850, where Earl and Esther were married, children baptized, and the entire family attended and supported.
