Floyd H. Rice

Dr. Floyd Holland Rice, 80, of San Diego, Calif., formerly of Rombauer died Monday April 21, 2008, in San Diego.

Dr. Rice was born April 10, 1928, in Portageville., Mo. He attended Rombauer schools until a sophomore in high school, at which time he joined the U. S. Army, serving during World War II. Before being discharged from the Army at age 19, Dr. Rice completed his GED. He later attended college at Southeast Missouri State University, in Cape Girardeau, and began his teaching career at Cooter, Mo. where he served as elementary principal, 6th grade teacher and bus driver. After leaving Cooter, Dr. Rice taught in the Sikeston Schools for 3 years, and also completed his Bachelors Degree at Southeast Missouri State University. He then moved to Brentwood (St. Louis) where he completed his Masters Degree at Peabody Vanderbilt University, and served one year as principal. In 1960, Dr. Rice made a major move to San Diego, Calif., where he completed his Doctorate Degree, and taught math at the San Diego City Schools, as well as history and math at San Diego State University. He was a 32 degree Mason, life-time member of Scottish Rite, member of Al Bar Shrine and a member of OES.

On Jan. 24, 1948, he married Ruth Dale Powell, in Raton, New Mexico. She survives.

Other survivors include two sisters, Hazel Fulmer, of Grandin, and Linda Rae Guthrie, of Poplar Bluff; four brothers, Paul Edward Rice, of North Carolina, Roy L. Rice, of Grandin, Carl V. Rice, of Dexter, and Marlin Rice, of Poplar Bluff; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, David Luther and Gladys (Cosey) Rice, son, Gregory Floyd Rice, and two brothers, David Rice and Wayne Rice preceded him in death.

Visitation will begin at 12 noon Saturday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The Memorial Service will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Chapel with the Rev. Marlin Rice officiating. A private interment of Dr. Rice's ashes will follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery, in Poplar Bluff.