Rice, Paul Rufus

Paul Rufus Rice, 84, of Stafford, Va., died Friday, November 13, 2009, at his home. He was born in Princeton, W.Va. on December 9, 1924, to the late John Harrison and Mable Gipson Rice. Mr. Rice was a veteran of World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he received in Okinawa.

He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy M. and Harold D. (Donny) Davison, Bonnie C. and Harold M. Stanley; seven sons and daughters-in-law, Paul W. (Wayne) Rice, Gary R. and Wanda A. Rice, Rodney R. Rice, Donald H. (Don) and Sherry A. Rice, Joseph P. (Joe) and Dianne M. Rice, James M. (Jim) Rice, Richard R. (Ricky) and Cristina Rice; a sister and brother-in-law, Betty Jane and Carl F. Watson; two brothers, Billy A. and Ruby Rice, Clarence C. and Marie M. Rice, 31 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, three great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 19, 2009, at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Mr. Bobby Fuller officiating. Interment will follow in Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday evening at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, SW, Blacksburg.