James Edwin "Jim " Rice, 58, of Ashland, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2014, in Cornerstone at St. Marys Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va.
He was born in Louisa to the late Judge Edwin D. and Ann Stephenson Rice. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Paul Rice of Kentucky Christian University.
Jim attended Ashland Community College, where he began his acting career in the 1980s. He performed with the Ashland Theater Guild in Guys and Dolls, Hello Dolly, Camelot and other nonmusicals. He also sang tenor with choirs and orchestras and was in a public performance of George Fredrick Handels Messiah. He and his late brother, Paul Rice, performed their own style of Christian comedy in numerous churches in the community. He was very active in 4-H horse projects and achieved numerous state and national awards for horse judging and public speaking. Jim was a member of First Baptist Church of Flatwoods and ACTC and Paramount theater groups. He was a substitute teacher.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dana Johnson Rice of Flatwoods; a daughter, Julianna Rice of Flatwoods; a sister, Barbara Rice of Ashland; an uncle, William P. Stephenson of Huntington; an aunt, Jean Stephenson Modlin of Zoar, Va., formerly of Huntington; and four cousins, Barbara Good of Charleston, W.Va., Dr. Joan Prasse of Zoar, Judy Kenaston of Beckley, W.Va., and Jane Modlin of Chesapeake, Ohio. He is also survived by the family of his late brother, Paul Marvin Rice and Mrs. Cathy Rice of Grayson, and nieces Elizabeth and Mary of Lexington and Grayson.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 31, 2014, at the First Baptist Church of Flatwoods by the Rev. Jim Nichols. Burial will be in Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland.
Visitation will be after 10 a.m. Monday at the church.
Steen Funeral Home in Ashland is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to steenfuneralhome.com.
