Robert Leon Rice was born Aug. 30, 1932, in Enid, and died May 6, 2016, in Shawnee at the age of 83.
He was the son of Robert Cecil and Eva Iona (Culbertson) Rice, and was a resident of Meeker. He married the love of his life, Annitta Lou Rapp on March 14, 1953 in Meeker. Leon proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. After leaving the Army he continued service to Meeker spending 20 years with the Meeker Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and EMT, ultimately serving as fire chief. Leon retired from Wolverine Tube in Shawnee. He was a longtime member of the Meeker First Christian Church. His parents and wife preceded Leon in death.
Leon is survived by his: son and daughter-in-law, Robbie and Jerry Rice of Newalla; daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie Lou and Rex Haugh of Shawnee, Teresa and Jay Sigman of Shawnee and Tara and Jay Matthews of Henryetta; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patsy and Bob Hedge of Meeker; 14 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and many other family and friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 2:30 PM, at the First Christian Church in Meeker with Jim Whorton officiating. Interment will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Meeker.