Jack E. Rice

Jack Edward Rice, 80, of Salem, passed away Monday, August 1, 2011. He was born in Roanoke, a son of the late Dennie Paul Rice and Lillian Rhudy Rice and had been an area resident for all of his life. A US Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was employed as the sales manager of N.W. Pugh in Roanoke and Narrows prior to beginning a long career in radio and television advertising. He served with WSLC/Q99 and Cox Communications from which he received numerous awards before retiring, served on the Board of Directors for Voice of the Blue Ridge, and was the voice of the Salem Fair for 24 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Diane Trent Rice who died in 2007, two brothers, Ralph and D.R. Rice, and a sister, Mary Jane Rice. He is survived by two sons, Randy Grisso and his wife Kristin, Edward P. Rice; three daughters, Melody Rice Schuster and her husband Kent, Teri Rice Howard and her husband Kenneth, Kagan Rice Crouch and her husband Mark, seven grandchildren, Brandon Grisso, Haley Woolwine, Katherine and Trevor Schuster, Morgan, Shelby and Kenneth Howard; a sister-in-law, Kay T. Sowers; brother-in-law, Jim L. Trent; a niece, Judy Musselman; three nephews, Darin and Cody Sowers and Jimmy Trent, as well as his special K-9 companion, Bosco. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Lewis Gale Medical Center ICU staff for the care and compassion shown to Jack and the family throughout his illness. Funeral services will be held at 10AM, Friday, August 5, 2011 at the Chapel of John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home. The Rev. David Henry will officiate. Entombment will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8PM Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or by visiting www.cancer.org. or to the Salem Host Lions Club, PO Box 582, Salem, VA 24153. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.johnmoakey.com.