Robert Dale Rice's Obituary
Robert Dale Rice was born on February 27, 1951, in Holly, Colorado to James Dale Rice and Naomi J Rice. He passed away peacefully on January 10th, 2025, at his home in Longview, Texas at the age of 73.
From growing up on his family’s farm in rural Colorado, to retiring from LeBus International and spending time doing the things he loved, Bob has always been surrounded by the most important things in his life: his family and his friends.
As the oldest of 6 siblings, Bob never had a dull moment in his childhood. He always enjoyed tinkering with a variety of projects and discovered his passion for machinery. After graduating from Holly High School in 1970, Bob decided to move to Muskogee, Oklahoma to attend technical school and gain a degree as a diesel mechanic. After finishing this program, Bob moved to Denver for a few years and then moved to Longview, Texas and worked a variety of jobs before settling at LeBus International, Inc.
Bob met and married his wife, Jeannette Rice, in 1984, and they spent over 40 years together. Bob and Jeannette and their three boys built a life in Longview filled with friends, family, and many pets. During this time, Bob continued doing the things he loved such as wood carving, collecting an assortment of knives and blades, and repairing and restoring antique tractors. He was well-known in his community as a man who could make any motor run, and his wood crafting was admired by all. After dedicating 35 years to the company, Bob retired from LeBus International in 2021 and embarked on a new journey of rest and retirement.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents Paul and Stella Crist, and James Luther and Ollie Bell Rice, his mother Naomi Rice, and his brother-in-law, Dave Wagner.
Those left to cherish Bob’s memory include his wife Jeannette, his sons Scott and wife Joni, Mark and wife Renee’, and Dale and wife Laura, his father J.D. Rice, his brothers Bill Rice and Mike Rice and wife Janice, his sisters Sharon Wagner, Jeanie Valdez and husband Leonard, and Debbie Miller and husband Mike, and his grandchildren Emma, Eli, Joscelyn, Brayden, Sofia, Sammi, Sean Aubree, Adisynn, and Paisley, and an immense number of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Services for Robert Rice will be held at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas on Thursday, January 16 th with visitation beginning at 1:00pm and a memorial service immediately following at 2:00pm. The service will be officiated by his dear friends Keith Schenck and Jack Gilbert.
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