Bob Rice, 91

Robert “Bob” Alton Rice, 91, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers.

He was born to the late Harry Floyd Rice and Eula Griffith Rice, on Dec. 1, 1919, in Kalamazoo. He married Anne Elizabeth Wray-McCann in 1946, having met her in the United Kingdom during World War II.

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army in early 1939. He served in the infantry in the Panama Canal Zone, Iceland, and the United Kingdom prior to landing in Normandy with the 10th Infantry Regiment in the 5th Infantry Division in July 1944. They fought across France, Luxembourg (Battle of the Bulge), Belgium, Germany and ended the war in western Czechoslovakia. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart medals.

Bob was active in veterans’ organizations and was for many years the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3019 and a member of the executive board of the American Legion Hice-Shutes Post #170, both in Three Rivers. As a small businessman in the 1950s Bob owned the Kist Beverages bottling works and distributorship and operated the Rollaway Skating Rink with his mother; later he owned an apartment building. Bob is retired from Peterson Springs Corporation. Bob loved to travel and after retirement he and Anne spent 21 winters in the Ocala National Forest at Salt Springs, Fla. where they made many wonderful friends from all over the Eastern U.S. and Canada.

Bob is survived by his wife, Anne; three children, Peter of Sarasota, Fla., Rosemary Rudd and Jonathan Rice of Three Rivers; two grandchildren, Christopher and Erin Rice; five step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren. Also, he is survived by two sisters, Helen Daniels of Plainwell and Veryl Swanson of Bear Lake and predeceased by his brother Richard of Kalamazoo and sister Darlene Scramlin of Nashville, Mich.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Thursday, Dec. 9 at the American Legion Hice-Shutes Post #170, 59990 S. Main St., Three Rivers, MI 49093 (269) 273-5205.

Cremation has taken place. The ashes will be interred at Ft. Custer National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Animal Rescue Fund, PO Box 593, Centreville, MI 49032 or the Salvation Army. Friends may share a memory online at www.avinkcremation.com. Arrangements handled by Avink Funeral Home, Cremation Society, Schoolcraft.