Virginia Idella Rice

Virginia Allyn Rice of Metairie, Louisiana passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2011 at the age of 91. She was the beloved wife of Col. John L. Rice, Jr. (ret.) who preceded her in death in 1980, and mother of Terry Rice Bray (Jeff), Janice “Jan” Rice Grosch and Jacquelyn Rice Young (David). Virginia was the grandmother (“Momo”)of Kristen Carvajal, Anastasia Souza, Jamie Jett (Robert), John, Chad and Jenay Sherman, Jennifer Fennell (Scott) and Jeff Bray II, and great-grandmother of 11. Virginia was born in Montowese, Connecticut, on April 16, 1920, the daughter of Col. And Mrs. Lester Nelson Allyn (Vera Hemmingway) and sister of Capt. Robert Nelson Allyn, all of whom preceded her in death. As the daughter of, and later wife of, military officers, she traveled extensively throughout the world, living in Panama, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, Hawaii and Vietnam, among other locations. As a young woman living in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, she was present during the December 7, 1941 attack on the Island of Oahu, where, during the aftermath, she distinguished herself working in a military hospital and driving personnel during enforced black-outs. Virginia attended the University of Idaho, where she majored in French and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She was a lifetime member of the Society of Daughters of the United States Army and worked as a volunteer for the Red Cross. During her years as an active military wife, she served as president and board member of Army Wives clubs and was the leader of numerous Girl Scout troops. After moving to Metairie in the mid 1960s, Virginia and her husband sponsored and hosted the family of Mr. Long Ly, who worked with Col. Rice in South Vietnam. An active member of the Mini-Matters Miniature Club, Virginia had a vivid imagination that helped her create very unique miniature room boxes, which numbered in the hundreds. This interest led her to chairing the exhibitor display at the annual miniature show to benefit the Kidney Foundation. Until her sight failed, she read extensively on a variety of topics encompassing history, religion, politics, health, oriental art and collectibles, cooking, gardening, fiction and information about her numerous other intrests, which included her pugs, growing orchids, raising saltwater fish and collecting snuff bottles. Her very active mind kept her younger than most her age. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of her life being held on Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 12:00 noon at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Blvd, Metairie. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. A private interment will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) tribute for Virginia Rice.

Condolences may be offered at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.