James R. Rice Jr.

He graduated from Peoples Academy in 1949. He attended Johnson State College and graduated with a BS Ed in 1958. He played varsity basketball and baseball at Johnson State and was named to the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984. He also coached numerous teams in the schools and communities, and particularly enjoyed coaching Little League baseball teams.

He enlisted in the USAF in 1952 during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in June of 1956. He received a Masters in Education from Northeastern University in 1967 and devoted 35 years in the public schools in New Hampshire and Vermont.

His greatest passion was his publication on the Rice and Emmons genealogy which he donated to the Concord Library. His other interests were sailing, gardening, sports and playing bridge with friends.

Family members include two sons, James R. Rice III and his wife Janet Kilbride of Millbury, MA and Nathan J. Rice and his wife An of Lutz, FL; a daughter Laurie and her husband Leroy Kimball, Jr. of Hopkinton; and two grandchildren Kyle and Nicole Kimball; and one great grandchild Nicholas Kimball.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, February 4, 2011 from 4pm-6pm at the Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N. Main Street, Concord.

Funeral services will take place at the funeral home at 6pm. Burial will take place in the spring at Pleasant View Cemetery in Morrisville, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, NE Affiliate, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701-4688.

The Bennett Funeral Home of Concord is in charge of the arrangements.