May 22, 2018

J. Robert “Bob” Rice, 94, of Waynesburg, formerly of Jollytown, passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in WHS-Greene, Waynesburg.

Born August 2, 1923, in Gilmore Township, Greene County, he was a son of the late John Lockwood and Mary Irene Phillips Rice.

Robert was a resident of the Jollytown area for most of his life. He was a 1941 graduate of Waynesburg High School.

Robert was a member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday school teacher, secretary and trustee.

He served his country in the U.S. Army National Guard during the Korean conflict and graduated from Army Infantry School in Fort Bennington, Ga.

Robert was also a member of Fort Jackson Chapters of Sons of the American Revolution and past commander of Hundred American Legion Post 120.

Robert began farming with his father on the farm that had been in the Rice family since 1835. He enjoyed raising Hereford cattle and Merino and Ramboulet sheep. In 1984, the Rice family farm was registered as a century farm. He served on Greene County Conservation District board of directors for more than 40 years and was chairman for more than 20 years. He was affiliated with many other agriculture organizations. Robert was a local historian; people came from all over to ask him about the Civil War.

Surviving are a daughter, Alice R. (Richard Hunnell) Wilson of Waynesburg; a grandson, Ian Wilson; and dear friend Pansy Six.

Bob was the last surviving member of his immediate family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Dye Rice, who passed away November 1, 1996, and three sisters, Edna Rice, Blanche Rice and Sarah Lemmon.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home LLC., 3275 West Roy Furman Highway, Rogersville, PA 15359, 724-499-5181, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 25, with Senior Judge Terry Grimes officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Jollytown, with full military honors accorded by American Legion Post 330, Waynesburg, and accompanied by the U.S Army.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eakin Cemetery, P.O. Box 166, Brave, PA 15316, or Jollytown United Methodist Church, 963 Golden Oaks Road, Holbrook, PA 15341.

To view and sign the tribute wall, visit www.kestersonfh.com.