Eldon R. Rice

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Eldon R. Rice, 88, East Walnut Street, Carrier Mills, died Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, at Harrisburg Medical Center.

He was born on Sept. 8, 1922, in Saline County to Raymond Rice and Ethel Chase Rice. He was married to Mary Louise Black, who preceded him in death on March 8, 1974; and then to Shirley Hobbs, who survives.

He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was a retired Sahara coal miner, musician and a barber. He was a member of First Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley; two sons, Dennis (Nancy) Rice of Carrier Mills and Stephen (Diane) Rice of Carrier Mills; three stepchildren, Laurie (Britt) Whitnell of Metropolis, Steven Rice of Albuquerque, N.M. and Lana (John) Foster of Los Angeles, Calif.; a sister, Lorene Dunaway of Florida; nine grandchildren, Brett (Pam) Rice, Ryan (Carrie) Rice, Corey (Sarah) Rice, Ronnie (Karen) Rice, Shawna (Gary) Metcalf, Phillip and Christopher Whitnell, Seth Utsler and Matthew Rice; and seven great-grandchildren, Nathan Rice, Jaxon and Alivia Rice, Connor and Colton Rice, Malaki and Gage Metcalf.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; son, Daryl Eugene Rice; and a brother, Carl.

Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011, at Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. Services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, at Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home, Carrier Mills. The Rev. Bob Coburn will officiate. Burial will be in Providence Cemetery, Carrier Mills.