Joyce Hermione James Rice, 94, died Saturday, April 9 in Dallas, Texas with family at her side.
She was a resident of Oakdale for 49 years.
She was born in Hankow, China to Edgar and Florence James, Seventh Day Adventist Church administrators. She graduated from Far Eastern Academy, Shanghi, China.
At 19, she traveled by ship with her Far Eastern Academy classmates to attend Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif., majoring in Secretarial Science while working in the Registrar’s Office. While there, she met her future husband, Paul Earl Rice. They both graduated in May 1941 and married June 2, 1941 in San Francisco.
Their first home was in El Centro where her husband was school Principal and their first child was born. Their second child was born in Pomona.
She and her husband lived in Bakersfield for eight years when he took a Laboratory Technology residency there. They moved in 1957 when Mr. Rice accepted a position as the Laboratory and X-Ray Technician at the Oakdale Hospital.
Mrs. Rice was a lifelong and active member of the SDA Church and a 54-year member of the Oakdale church. She shared lifelong friendships with her Far Eastern Academy and Pacific Union College classmates.
In the last five years, she lived in Texas in a retirement home to be near her daughter.
She was always cheerful with a pleasant smile for everyone.
She is survived by her daughter, Pauline (Michael) Oden of Grand Prairie, TX; son, Leland (Rossean) Rice of Knights Ferry; sisters, Irene Bowers, Ramona, Beth Robinson of Canon City, CO; grandchildren, Gail Brasfield, David Pearson, Valerie Rice (Dan) McDonald and Doug (Jennifer) Rice; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Paul; and her parents. There will be a viewing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel. A service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, also at the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Oakdale SDA Church, or to the charity of your choice.
She was a resident of Oakdale for 49 years.
She was born in Hankow, China to Edgar and Florence James, Seventh Day Adventist Church administrators. She graduated from Far Eastern Academy, Shanghi, China.
At 19, she traveled by ship with her Far Eastern Academy classmates to attend Pacific Union College in Angwin, Calif., majoring in Secretarial Science while working in the Registrar’s Office. While there, she met her future husband, Paul Earl Rice. They both graduated in May 1941 and married June 2, 1941 in San Francisco.
Their first home was in El Centro where her husband was school Principal and their first child was born. Their second child was born in Pomona.
She and her husband lived in Bakersfield for eight years when he took a Laboratory Technology residency there. They moved in 1957 when Mr. Rice accepted a position as the Laboratory and X-Ray Technician at the Oakdale Hospital.
Mrs. Rice was a lifelong and active member of the SDA Church and a 54-year member of the Oakdale church. She shared lifelong friendships with her Far Eastern Academy and Pacific Union College classmates.
In the last five years, she lived in Texas in a retirement home to be near her daughter.
She was always cheerful with a pleasant smile for everyone.
She is survived by her daughter, Pauline (Michael) Oden of Grand Prairie, TX; son, Leland (Rossean) Rice of Knights Ferry; sisters, Irene Bowers, Ramona, Beth Robinson of Canon City, CO; grandchildren, Gail Brasfield, David Pearson, Valerie Rice (Dan) McDonald and Doug (Jennifer) Rice; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Paul; and her parents. There will be a viewing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13 at Oakdale Memorial Chapel. A service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, also at the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Oakdale SDA Church, or to the charity of your choice.
