Rice, Billy Gene

Billy Gene Rice, 79, of Narrows, passed away peacefully Monday, December 23rd, 2013 at LewisGale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg after a three year battle with cancer. A lifelong resident of Giles County, he was born on October 16th, 1934, and was the son of the late Luther C. and Georgia Lillian Epling Rice. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters.

Bill was a 1953 graduate of Narrows High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959 and the U.S. Army Reserve until 1963. He was a retired employee of Celanese Acetate in Narrows with over 40 years of service. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Narrows, and was a loyal Narrows Green Wave supporter. A caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, he will be missed by his loving family and many special friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years, Rebecca Woodyard Rice; two daughters, Melissa Mitchell and husband Bob of Christiansburg, Cindy Spangler and husband Brian of Narrows; four grandchildren, Kimberly Mitcham and husband Josh, Kayla Mitchell, Brandon Spangler, Zach Spangler; one great-grandson, Drayton Mitcham; a sister, Nina Weiss of Princeton, West Virginia; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be held Friday, December 27th, 2013 at 11 AM in the Chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows with Rev. Jerry Sawyers officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service Thursday from 6 to 8 PM. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider either the Youth Program at First Baptist Church in Narrows; 609 Wolf Street; Narrows, Virginia 24124, or the Narrows Athletic Fund, Inc.; P.O. Box 114; Narrows, Virginia 24124.

The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.