Lon Rice

J. Lon Rice, 93, of Richmond, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 12. Lon was born on September 18, 1932, in New Enterprise, Pennsylvania, the son of Orange W. & Mary Margater Morgan Rice.

Mr. Rice, as his students would remember him, earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Indiana State University. He taught in the Centerville-Abington School system, retiring in 1994. He remained active in farming for several years after retirement. Lon was a faithful Christian disciple. He was a proud member of the Salemville German Baptist Church in Salemville, Pennsylvania, and attended Sugar Grove Community Church and Hilcrest Baptist Church. He enjoyed traveling many miles with his friends in Seniors on Scooters and shared a music ministry in area nursing homes, playing his guitar. He was a generous volunteer at Reid Health from 1994-2019, with close to 3000 hours of service.

Lon will be missed by his son, Bart Rice; granddaughters, Nancy Bolt and her husband, Nick; and Jama Diener and her husband, Keaton.

Lon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma Rice, who died in 1980; son, Kirk Rice; brothers, Fred, Jack and Dick Rice.

Visitation for Lon will be from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at the Smith-McQuiston & Webster Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South, Fountain City. A celebration of Lon’s life will begin at 1:00 p.m., with Dr. Marty Holman officiating.

Lon will be buried in Salemville Cemetery in Salemville, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged for the Reid Foundation, 1100 Reid Parkway, Richmond, IN 47374. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.