[Nfbwv-talk] For those of you who knew Rusty Rice.

[Smyth, Charlene R]

JAMES R.  RICE III.  JAMES R.  RICE III



ROMNEY, W.Va.  - James Russell Rice III, known by his family and friends as 'Rusty', was taken into the Lord's presence on Saturday, Jan.  9, 2016, at 12:05 a.m.  at the University of Virginia Medical Center after a courageous battle with cancer.



Rusty was born on Feb.  24, 1947, the son of James and Ann Rice of Mount Rainier.  He had interests in model rockets, hiking, biking, and photography.  He was an Alumnus from the University of Maryland and earned two Masters degrees, one from West Virginia University, and the second from Eastern Michigan University.  For a time he was employed at the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.  In 1974, Rusty, his wife, Alice and year old son, Jamie, moved from the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

to Romney, W.Va., where he was a vocational teacher for the West Virginia School for the Blind.  He held this position for over 30 years and continued to substitute for several years after retirement.  He was athletic trainer for the West Virginia School for the Deaf football team and the Romney Middle School, and coached the School for the Deaf wrestling team.  He also coached gymnastics in Winchester.  In his retirement, he worked as a Certified Braille Writer Technician.  Rusty also trained as an EMT and became the first paramedic in Hampshire County.  He was presented the first emergency defibrillator for the county by Governor Jay Rockefeller.



Rusty and Alice were blessed by the birth of their second child, Jennifer, in 1977.



Rusty was active in the ministry of First Baptist Church in Romney and was faithful in seeing that his family regularly attended services.



Rusty loved his country and was very patriotic holding members and veterans of the military in high esteem.  He was also active in the meetings of the Hampshire County Tea Party.



Rusty is survived by Alice Lee (n.  Ghent), his beloved wife of

46 years; son, James (Jamie) and wife, Jessica of Lynchburg, Va; daughter, Jennifer and husband, Pastor Bryan Hagley of Huntington, W.Va.; brother, Allen Willard Rice of Mount Rainier; sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Joe Paolucci of Gaithersburg; sister-in-law, Betty Bauer of Butler, Pa.; niece, Lori and husband, Kevin Fry of Butler; nine grandchildren, Olivia, Camden, and Meridith Rice and Gabriel, Rebekah, James, Joseph, Hannah, and Jonathan Hagley.



Friends will be received on Saturday, Jan.  16, 2016, from 10 to

11 a.m.  at the First Baptist Church of Romney, with a memorial service at 11 a.m.



In lieu of flowers, Rusty asked that donations be made to either the First Baptist Church youth ministry, the West Virginia School for the Blind music department, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or the UVA Emily Couric Cancer Center.


Inquiries may be directed to Shaffer Funeral Home, Romney.




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