Dorothy S. Rice

By | September 19, 2019

Dorothy passed away peacefully after a brief illness.  She was born in Silver Lake, Kansas, near Topeka. 

Dorothy met Donald Martin Warren Rice of Toledo, Ohio at the University of Illinois. They married July 17, 1948 in Springfield, Illinois.  She and Donald lived in Missouri, Colorado and California before settling in Jackson, Ohio in 1955.  Dorothy and Donald enjoyed several cruises to the Mediterranean Sea, Alaska, Panama Canal, and Norwegian countries.

Dorothy was always proud of her accomplishments as a talented ballet dancer in early life; painted seascapes, wrote and published poetry in her middle years and was a skillful seamstress.  She loved gardening and nature.  Family was most important to her.  Her life was defined by a life-long journey of self-awareness and love of learning.

She graduated from Peoria High School in 1945 and attended to University of Illinois from 1945-1948. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

Dorothy is survived by three brothers: John (Kathe) Hall of Washington State, Bob (Nancy) Hofmann of Colorado, and James Dietrich of Georgia; and one sister: Marvel Elizabeth Hildinger of Florida.

Dorothy leaves a legacy of love and support to son, Robert James Clinton (Margie) Rice of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Barbara Lynn (John) Barta of Columbus Ohio; grandchildren: Clinton James Harrison (Megan) Rice of Tucson, Arizona, Julia Louise Rice of Orange, California, Jeffrey James (Laura) Barta of Ft. Irwin, California, and Bethany Anne (Alex) Garbe of Geneva, Illinois; as well as eight great-grandchildren: Grady and Graham Rice; Moira, Devlin, Ashley and Katelyn Barta; and Clare and Anne Garbe.

She was preceded in death by her parents Madge Bernice and Fred A. Seeman and her husband of 65 years, Donald M. Rice.

Dorothy will be greatly missed by family and a large flock of birds who frequented her yard.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson. Graveside services will immediately follow at Fairmount Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com