William Chester Rice

      William Chester Rice, 93, of Keota and formerly of Fairfield, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

      The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at United Church of Faith in Keota, with the Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

      Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the church preceding the funeral.

      Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is in charge of arrangements.

      Mr. Rice was born May 30, 1911, near Packwood, the son of Jose and Kate Staats Rice. He married Reithel Kann of Fairfield June 14, 1941, in Crown Point, Ind.

      He attended a country grade school and graduated from Pleasant Plain High School in 1929. After attending Iowa Success Business College in Ottumwa, he was employed as secretary for the U.S. Department of War in Washington, D.C., at Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island, Ill., and in a government position in Des Moines.

      He served in the United States Army during World War II as secretary for Armed Forces Headquarters at Fort Knox, Ky. After discharge, he and his wife owned and operated Excel Popcorn Company for 40 years and raised livestock.

      After residing in Richland for 10 years, he lived in Fairfield for several years, then farmed near Libertyville for 20 years, settling in Keota after retirement.

      Mr. Rice was a member of Keota United Church of Faith. He was a lifelong Methodist. He was a former VFW member.

      He enjoyed woodworking, gardening and traveling.

      Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Marcia Whitt and husband John of Bethany, Mo., and Patricia Rice of Coralville; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

      He was preceded in death by his parents; five sisters; and one infant brother.