Clarence Rice

Clarence Rice, 92, of Little Rock died on April 24 following a short illness. He was born on June 12, 1926, in Clay County to Ellsworth and Maggie Rice, and as a young man helped clear their land of timber for farming. Clarence graduated from Corning High School and enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville soon afterwards. His collegiate days were interrupted by World War II where he served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge at age 19 on a troop ship for assignment in the Philippines. Using the G.I. Bill, he returned to Fayetteville, the first member of his family to go to college, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. While attending the university, Clarence was a member of the Livestock Judging Team, Key Club, and President of the Agri Students Association.

Clarence met his wife of nearly 70 years, Clovita Powers of Fayetteville, while both were students at the University of Arkansas. They were married on December 16, 1949. An ongoing dispute has remained for nearly seven decades as to how they met. They agreed it was at a church social, but he maintained it started when she intentionally dropped ice down his back, while she claims the opposite. One of the first things Clovita noticed about Clarence was his sense of humor and love for children.

Upon graduation, Clarence accepted a job with the Cooperative Extension Service, working as assistant county agent in Greene County in Paragould where he and Clovita had their first child, Joe David, in 1952. Clarence was soon promoted to county agent in Izard County, the youngest agent in Arkansas at the time. The Rices’ daughter Robbi was born in Melbourne in 1954. Clarence then began working for Olin Corporation, selling agricultural products in northeastern Arkansas from Jonesboro where he and Clovita welcomed their daughter Vicki in 1956. Clarence was promoted to a position in Olin’s North Little Rock office and worked for Olin until his retirement in 1977. Among his many career highlights was serving as President of the Arkansas State Plant Food Society.

A big fan of Lake Norfork, Clarence built a cabin on the lake in 1959 that’s been enjoyed ever since by family members and friends. He was an avid fisherman and horseshoe player, voracious reader, and Razorback fan. He bought and renovated 76 houses in his retirement years and traveled extensively with his wife across the United States and into 32 foreign countries. Yet his favorite place in the world remained the cabin on Lake Norfork. He was known as a tolerable water-skiing instructor, opinionated political commentator, and resourceful entrepreneur. Clarence loved fried catfish, coconut pies, and banana pudding.

Clarence is survived by Clovita Rice, his beloved wife; his little sister Helen Rich of Lilburn, Georgia; son Joe David Rice (Tracey) of Little Rock; daughter Robbi Rice Dietrich of Plano, Texas; and daughter Vicki Fountain (Gary) of Houston, Texas, and Little Rock. Grandchildren include Weston Rice of San Francisco; Henry Rice of Little Rock; Maggie Newton (Christian) of Frisco, Texas; and Matthew Dietrich (Jessica) of Oklahoma City; and quite possibly the two cutest and smartest great-grandchildren ever: Asher Newton (age 6) and Tatum Newton (age 4).

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Wanda Wendelken and her husband Bill.

Memorials may be made to The Children’s Home, Inc; 5515 Walcott Road; Paragould, AR 72450 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) in Memphis.