Russ was born on November 12, 1958, his father, Vincent, was 30 and his mother, Lula, was 31. He married Dawn Marie Hartman on May 16, 1987, in Blacksburg, Virginia. They had five children in 17 years: Deborah E. [adopted]; Austin R.; Laura B.; Kaitlin G.; and Joseph C.

Russ achieved the rank of Eagle Boy Scout and graduated from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1976.

The obituary below was modified to remove an erroneous statement that Russ was a Veteran and served in the U.S. Army. He did not serve in the military. He graduated from Virginia Tech where he was a member of the Corp of Cadets.

Obituary from Grubb Funeral Home.

Vincent Russell "Russ" Rice, Jr. age 62, of Wytheville, passed away on Saturday, November 6, 2021. He was born in Washington D.C. on November 12, 1958, to the late Vincent Russell Rice, Sr. and Lula Viola Fox Rice. Russ attended and served at Legacy Church in Wytheville. Russ loved Jesus, nature, and was an avid outdoorsman. He was a devoted husband, father, and "PAPA".

Survivors include his wife Susan Louise Thomas Rice; four children, Austin, Laura, Kaitlin "Katie" and Joseph "Joey" Rice; three stepchildren, Shannon Stringham, Samantha Lytton (Ryan) and Sivonna Stringham (Everette); two grandchildren, Marshall and Amelia Lytton; one brother [Herbert "Michael" Rice] and one sister [Marcia "Virginia" Love] also survive.

Memorial services will be held at 6:30 P.M. on Friday, November 12, 2021, at the Legacy Church with Pastor Bret McCleary officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:30 P.M. until the time of the service at the church. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.grubbfuneralhome.com

The Rice family is in the care of Grubb Funeral Home, Wytheville, Virginia.

Russ died at home from COVID SARS-CoV-2 per his death certificate.