Roll Call Tribute

Leatherwood Memorial Chapels obituary
1001 South Elm St
Brady, Texas 76825
Phone: (325) 597-0714
Fax: (325) 597-0716

Marion Dale Rice
June 14, 1924 - July 03, 2017

Marion Dale Rice, 93 passed away on July 3, 2017 with Dorthy Johanson Rice, his wife of 70 years, by his side. Born on June 14, 1924 the only child of Marion Austin and Lorene McCune Rice who lived on their ranch north of Brady. At the age of six, he rode a Shetland pony 16 miles, opening seven gates traveling across the Pumphrey ranch to attend school at Placid. One day he was late getting home because he decided some armadillos needed killing. His delay scared his parents so they decided he should go to school in Brady to participate in band, football and track. Marion Dale graduated Brady High School in 1942 and immediately enrolled at Texas A&M to study engineering. His A&M studies were interrupted by the war when he joined the B12 unit to become a naval fighter pilot flying F4F - Hell Cats. As part of his training, he attended Rice University and then on to Pensacola, FL where he was commissioned by the Navy and received his wings on August 7, 1945 the day after the bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With the ending of the war, he returned to A&M but in 1946 his studies where once again interrupted when his father fell ill and he came home to run the family ranch and marry his high school sweetheart, Dorthy on December 1, 1946. Marion Dale served as an Elder, Deacon and Board member for the First Christian Church and was a member of the Brady Masonic Lodge #628.

A memorial service for Marion Dale Rice will be held at 4:00pm Friday, July 7, 2017 at the First Christian Church in Brady with Reverend Randall Larr officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Leatherwood Memorial Chapels in Brady. There will be a Private Family Graveside service with Masonic and Military Honors at Live Oak Cemetery. Friends may view Marion Dale’s Memorial Video Tribute and/or sign the online memorial guest book at www.leatherwoodmemorialchapels.com.

He is survived by his wife Dorthy of the home, their children, Mike Rice and fiancé Helen Motz of Brady, Bob Rice and wife Cindy of Brady, Charlotte Finley and husband Jim of Ft. Worth, and Sheila Hemphill and husband Mark of Brady, grandchildren Ashley, Amber and Austin Finley, Kendale, Austin and Kristin Rice, and Coleman and Christian Hemphill. He was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in support of veteran charities that he held in high regard. The family expresses great gratitude to Maria Escobar and her husband Javier for their loving care.


SERVICES

Family Receiving Friends
Thursday, July 06, 2017
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Leatherwood Memorial Chapels in Brady
1001 South Elm Street
Brady, Texas 76825
Get Directions on Google Maps


Memorial Service
Friday, July 07, 2017
4:00 PM

First Christian Church in Brady
210 East Second Street
Brady, Texas 76825
Get Directions on Google Maps