My father, Howard James "Grits" Rice, was born in Elberton, GA to Earl James Rice and Nancy Josephine Crittenden Rice. He had 3 sisters, Lillian, Frances, and Thelma. They moved to Mt. Dora, FL, where he graduated from high school. He married Ruth Eskey Orum on Dec. 25,1941. He went off to war shortly thereafter and served in the Army Air Corp. He was in the Pacific Theater - New Guinea and the Philippines, where he was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Phillipine Liberation Medal, After the war, he returned with wife and daughter to Eustis, FL. He loved golf - was a scratch golfer and won the Lake County Championship tournament several times, as well as the local club championship. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Rotary Club. He was a manager with Florida Power Corp. He was a good dancer, terrible whistler, loved movies and books. He had two daughters, Jane Leigh and Mary Ann, who still miss him! He had one grandson, William Rice Lassiter, who brought him great joy.
My father, Howard James "Grits" Rice, was born in Elberton, GA to Earl James Rice and Nancy Josephine Crittenden Rice. He had 3 sisters, Lillian, Frances, and Thelma. They moved to Mt. Dora, FL, where he graduated from high school. He married Ruth Eskey Orum on Dec. 25,1941. He went off to war shortly thereafter and served in the Army Air Corp. He was in the Pacific Theater - New Guinea and the Philippines, where he was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Phillipine Liberation Medal, After the war, he returned with wife and daughter to Eustis, FL. He loved golf - was a scratch golfer and won the Lake County Championship tournament several times, as well as the local club championship. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Rotary Club. He was a manager with Florida Power Corp. He was a good dancer, terrible whistler, loved movies and books. He had two daughters, Jane Leigh and Mary Ann, who still miss him! He had one grandson, William Rice Lassiter, who brought him great joy.
Family Members
Children
