1920
Jethro
2010
Jethro John Rice
August 12, 1920 — July 6, 2010
Listen to Obituary
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
Jethro John Rice, lately of Ferrum, Virginia where he resided with his daughter Judith Stiles and son-in-law Gerald, passed from this life into the presence of Christ on July 6, 2010. Born in Grand Rapids Michigan in 1920, he was born-again at the age of 40 and his life was transformed. A veteran of WWII, he served as a First Lieutenant in the South Pacific with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. He was an Eagle Scout and loved working with children. He graduated from Wyoming High School in Grand Rapids (Class of 1938) and attended Grand Rapids Junior College and Central Michigan University. Jethro worked for Michigan Bell on projects with AT&T, Western Electric, and the U.S. Department of Defense. His job took him to Iran, where he worked with American Bell International developing a nationwide integrated telecommunications system while the Shah of Iran was still in power.
He was passionate about horses and was an avid target shooter. He was a certified NRA Firearms Instructor. At 89 years of age he was still able to shoot rifles with his son-in-law and law enforcement grandson. He loved music and throughout his life, he sang in various church choirs and a barber shop quartet. Upon retirement in 1980 he and Kathryn, his wife of 65 years, lived their life-long dream of residing on the shores of Lake Michigan. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Manistee, Michigan and had a strong love for foreign missions.
Jethro was preceded in death by his parents Jethro G and Catherine (Beals) Rice; his wife Kathryn (Olson) Rice; his sister, Marjorie (Rice) Thompson; his eldest daughter, Mary (Rice) Campero of California; and a great-granddaughter, Stetson Lane Stiles. He is survived by his beloved sister Virginia (Rice) Weidenfeller and her husband Herbert of 6300 Greenway SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Marilyn Rice with Christar Missions in the Netherlands; his daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Gerald Stiles who operate Aletheia Springs Christian Education Center in Ferrum, Virginia; and his daughter, Barbara Butler of Kingstree, South Carolina. He has ten grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, five nephews, and dear friends too great to number.
He loved the Word of God and was surprised that the Rapture of the Church had not occurred during his lifetime. During the last week of his life, he was overjoyed to hear of the salvation of six young men at Aletheia Springs.
A memorial service and visitation with the family will be held at Aletheia Springs Christian Education Center (731 Pernello Rd., Ferrum, Virginia), officiated by Dr. Gerald Stiles on Monday July 12, 2010 at 7:30pm. A graveside memorial service will be held August 12, 2010 (his 90th birthday) in Manistee, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Aletheia Springs. Arrangements by Flora Funeral & Cremation Service, Rocky Mount.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation; purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit; washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long!”
Fanny Crosby
Jethro John Rice, lately of Ferrum, Virginia where he resided with his daughter Judith Stiles and son-in-law Gerald, passed from this life into the presence of Christ on July 6, 2010. Born in Grand Rapids Michigan in 1920, he was born-again at the age of 40 and his life was transformed. A veteran of WWII, he served as a First Lieutenant in the South Pacific with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. He was an Eagle Scout and loved working with children. He graduated from Wyoming High School in Grand Rapids (Class of 1938) and attended Grand Rapids Junior College and Central Michigan University. Jethro worked for Michigan Bell on projects with AT&T, Western Electric, and the U.S. Department of Defense. His job took him to Iran, where he worked with American Bell International developing a nationwide integrated telecommunications system while the Shah of Iran was still in power.
He was passionate about horses and was an avid target shooter. He was a certified NRA Firearms Instructor. At 89 years of age he was still able to shoot rifles with his son-in-law and law enforcement grandson. He loved music and throughout his life, he sang in various church choirs and a barber shop quartet. Upon retirement in 1980 he and Kathryn, his wife of 65 years, lived their life-long dream of residing on the shores of Lake Michigan. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Manistee, Michigan and had a strong love for foreign missions.
Jethro was preceded in death by his parents Jethro G and Catherine (Beals) Rice; his wife Kathryn (Olson) Rice; his sister, Marjorie (Rice) Thompson; his eldest daughter, Mary (Rice) Campero of California; and a great-granddaughter, Stetson Lane Stiles. He is survived by his beloved sister Virginia (Rice) Weidenfeller and her husband Herbert of 6300 Greenway SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546; his son and daughter-in-law, John and Marilyn Rice with Christar Missions in the Netherlands; his daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Gerald Stiles who operate Aletheia Springs Christian Education Center in Ferrum, Virginia; and his daughter, Barbara Butler of Kingstree, South Carolina. He has ten grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, five nephews, and dear friends too great to number.
He loved the Word of God and was surprised that the Rapture of the Church had not occurred during his lifetime. During the last week of his life, he was overjoyed to hear of the salvation of six young men at Aletheia Springs.
A memorial service and visitation with the family will be held at Aletheia Springs Christian Education Center (731 Pernello Rd., Ferrum, Virginia), officiated by Dr. Gerald Stiles on Monday July 12, 2010 at 7:30pm. A graveside memorial service will be held August 12, 2010 (his 90th birthday) in Manistee, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Aletheia Springs. Arrangements by Flora Funeral & Cremation Service, Rocky Mount.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.
Heir of salvation; purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit; washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long!”
Fanny Crosby
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