Edmond Lee Rice, Jr.

Edmond Lee Rice, Jr. was born in Statesville, NC in 1943, the son of Dr. Edmond L. Rice and Mary O. Holler Rice. The Rices served in China through the Methodist Board of Missions which returned them to the US during World War II. Lee lived in Elkin, Washington, and Gastonia NC until his parents returned to the mission field in Lahore, Pakistan in 1953. Lee and his sisters attended Woodstock School, a boarding school in Landour, Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, India. He excelled as a student and was on the swim, tennis, and soccer teams and hiked the Himalayan Mountains. He graduated from Woodstock in 1960, followed by Emory University in 1964. Lee joined the army and served in Vietnam with the 1st Cavalry. After completing his medical training at Emory University, he served as an emergency room doctor in Atlanta, GA, Cummings, GA, Columbia, SC and Murphy NC. During retirement Lee resided in Waynesville and Asheville, NC. Although during his life he moved often, two constant communities were summers at Lake Junaluska, NC with the A. E. Holler family cousins, and later, Woodstock annual class reunions in the States. In 2017, Lee married Anita Hoke Carlson, a Woodstock classmate, and they moved into Givens Estates.

In college Lee played tennis, golf, touch football, and soccer. He mastered photography, enjoyed playing guitar, watching sports and meeting with his OLLI friends (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and breakfast groups. Though his career in emergency medicine involved ever changing sleep and work schedules, hiking and travel with friends Ronnie Cassell and Mike Hewitt was a favorite way to relax for many years. Lee always had a book to read and his family and friends benefited from his wisdom and wit.

Lee is survived by his wife, Anita Hoke Carlson Rice, Asheville, NC, two sisters: Marian Sigmon (Robert) Asheville, NC; Louisa Goebel (Paul), Hendersonville, NC.; their children: May Sigmon, Asheville, NC, Kiran Sigmon (Mark Siler) Asheville, NC; Paul Edmond Goebel (Shelly), Memphis, TN, Mary O. Gustafson (Ivan) Colbert, WA many nieces and nephews and Anita’s daughters: Heather Johnson (Bill) Florida, Jennifer Trovillion (Aaron) Maryland and Anita’s grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3070 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville NC 28803.

Memorial Gifts may be sent to Friends of Woodstock School, PO Box 749780, Los Angeles, CA 90074.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.