William Peters Rice

William "Bill" Rice 88 of White City passed away October 31 at Morris County Assisted Living. 

William (Bill) Peters Rice was born on December 28, 1933, to Roy and Lilah (Peters) Rice in Buffalo, NY. Bill attended McKinley Vocational High School in Buffalo, NY.  

In 1951, Bill enlisted in the Army and in January of that year was sent to the Korean conflict.  On October 14, 1952, Bill was combat wounded for which he was awarded a Purple Heart.  He spent many months in Japan recovering from his wounds. Following return to the States he was assigned to Fort Riley, KS.  It was here that he met Mary Yvonne Gieber whom he married on January 15, 1955, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ogden, KS. To this union three children were born, Jamie, Billy and Rusty.  

Bill loved his family very much. He and Mary loved to travel, camp, and share trips with their grandchildren. His passion for dirt track racing was passed down to his sons, son-in-law and grandsons.  Bill retired from civil service as a diesel mechanic at Ft Riley where he made many lifelong friends.  

Preceding Bill in death was his wife Mary of 65 years, his parents and brothers Roy, Ted, Don and Ken Rice.  Bill is survived by his only sister Jane Budde, Gasport, NY, and his children, Jamie (Tracy) Schmidt, William Rice, Jr (Annette) and Russel (Ilona) Rice all of White City. Grandchildren- Christin (Seth) Parrish, Kellie (Rob) Obermueller, Justin (Chelsey) Schmidt, Joey (Dayna) Rice, Autumn (Nick) Wolff, Ryan (Megan) Rice, Natalie (Clayton) McCullough, Amber (Matthew) Colvin, and Samantha Rice.  Great grandchildren- Bode and Chandler Parrish, Riley and Kayleigh Obermueller, Kayden, Jace, Blair Schmidt and Marlee Gant, Sydney and Camryn Rice, Austin and Alyssa Wolff, Katelynn and William Braden Rice, Reese, Sloan and Harper McCullough, Reagan Mary and Elliott Colvin, and Landon Rice as well as many nieces and nephews.  

Inurnment will be at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery, Manhattan, KS, at 10:00am, Friday, November 18, 2022.

The Teddy L. Wilde Post 299 or the White City Senior Citizens, has been chosen for memorial. Memorials may be sent in care of Sawyer Funeral Home, PO Box 273, Council Grove, KS 66846.

Condolences may be left at www.sawyerchapel.com.