Captain Lawrence "Bob" Rice, Sr.

Captain Lawrence “Bob” Rice, Sr., US Army Retired, died Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Aston Park Healthcare Center. Bob is survived by his wife, Doris; sons, Larry Rice, Jr (Angelica) and Terry Rice; one granddaughter, Devin; four grandsons, Brandon, Travis, Jordan and Gabriel, as well as one aunt, Helen Elkins and several cousins. Born to the late J. Clifford and Margaret Rice, he served in the US Marine Corps and the US Army, from which he retired. He graduated from Campbell College in 1974. Following his retirement from the Army, he worked in the Veterans section of the Employment Security Commission for 20 years. He was a hard worker and had a deep passion to help everyone who he came in contact with. He served as a Commandant of the Marine Corps League, Commander of the VFW Post 891, was a lifetime member of the American Legion, was a recipient of two Purple Hearts, member of the American Veterans Association, the Disabled Veterans Association, the Shriners Club and the Biltmore Masonic Lodge (#446). He loved his family, God and country. He also loved to spend his free time playing golf, reading and fishing. The family would like to thank the VA Hospital, especially the members of the home health care team, who gave him great care for several years. A Funeral Service with Masonic Rites provided by the Biltmore Masonic Lodge will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 21 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, officiated by Mike Cribbs and Jason Queen. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Gashes Creek Cemetery. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 1-2 PM and the Biltmore Masonic Lodge will open at 12:45 PM. Flowers are appreciated, but for those who choose, memorial donations may be made in Bob’s name to either the Shriner’s Hospitals (shrinershospitalsforchildren.org) or to the Charles George VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805.