Charles Rice (7-9-10) services 7-14-10

Charles D. Rice, of Savannah, was born in Trenton, Mo., on Nov. 17, 1933, the son of the late Lyman D. and Bertha Irene Eckhart Rice.

On July 5, 1957, he was united in marriage to Doris Gale Neill, who survives.

Mr. Rice began his career as a school teacher at Gillis Mills School, where he taught for a year. He then went on to White’s Elementary for 16 years and was principal, Hardin County Junior High School (1976), Hardin County High School for three years, and retired from Hardin County Middle School in December of 1999. Mr. Rice owned Burnt Church Wood Crafts after retirement, doing wood work and making furniture. He worked as a part time plumber and electrician all of his life. Mr. Rice was a member of the VFW, State Guard, TEA, NEA, Turkey Creek Baptist Church and served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a veteran of the United States Navy having served in Korea.

Mr. Rice departed this life on Friday, July 9, at the age of 76 years, 7 months, 22 days.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Gail Petty and husband David of Ramer, Tenn.; two sons, Don Rice and wife Susanne, Dennis Rice, all of Savannah; four grandchildren, Bryan Petty and wife Rebecca, Olivia Hutcheson and Josh, Rebeka Rice, and Seth Rice; a great-grandchild, Sebastien Petty; two brothers, Ed Rice and John Rice, both of Trenton, Mo.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Debbie Rice.

Services were held on Wednesday, July 14, at 3 p.m., at Shackelford Chapel in Savannah with Eric Jones, Wayne King officiating. Burial was in the Neill Cemetery at Savannah.