Sylvia L. (Smith) Rice of Arcanum, Ohio, and formerly from Trotwood, Ohio, passed peacefully surrounded with family on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 5:00 PM at Kindred Healthcare, Indianapolis, Indiana. She was born on October 21, 1932 in Dayton, Ohio, to the late Earl and Sarah (Lentz) Smith.In addition to her parents she is preceded in death by her husband, Chester Rice; son, Joel Rice; brothers; Bill, Gene, Lowell, Carl and Bob Smith; sisters; Marie Landis, Helen Shepard, Miriam Welsh.
She is survived by sons and daughter in law, Bob and Marilyn (Jones) Rice of Arcanum, OH, Dwane and Kim (Clingerman) Rice of Indianapolis, IN, and Aaron and Linda (Bates) Rice of Binghamton, NY; daughter in law and spouse, Sheri & Tim (Cress, Rice) Hicks of Greenville, OH; 14 grandchild, Sarah Shearer, Jason Rice, Joshua Rice, Andrea Netzley, Deborah Rice, Joel I. Rice, Nathan Rice, Julia Rice, Ethan Rice, Lauren Rice, Jeffrey Rice, Lindsey Rice and Zachary Newbold; 12 great grandchildren; sisters, Myrna Smoot of Brookville, OH, Bonnie Cummings of Trotwood, OH, and Ellen Duke of West Manchester, OH; sister in law, Marilyn Smith of Brookville, OH; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Sylvia was a homemaker and was a member of the Castine Church of the Brethren and Gideon’s Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking and most of spending time with her family. She was a very good mother and had a services heart. She will be deeply missed by many.
There will be a service held on Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Castine Church of the Brethren, with Pastor Gary Cloyd officiating. Burial will follow in the Wheelock Cemetery, West Milton, Ohio. Family will receive friends on Saturday from noon until the time of the service at church. Arrangements are under the direction of Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Ohio.
It is the wishes of the family that memorial contributions be given to Gideon’s. Condolence for the family may be sent through www.zecharbailey.com
