Calvin C. Rice
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Calvin C. Rice, 92, went to be with his Savior on December 31, 2022, in Lenexa, KS. Calvin is preceded by his wife, Martha, his parents, Clarence, and Esther Rice, and his 2 brothers, Virgil, and Clyde. He is survived by 1 daughter and 4 sons, 20 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Calvin was born on a dairy farm near Williamsport, Indiana on March 20, 1930. When he was 3 years old, his family moved to a dairy farm 10 miles east of Emporia, KS where he lived until starting high school in 1943. He attended a one-room schoolhouse until his 9th grade year, when the family moved to Emporia. He graduated from Emporia High School in 1947 and went on to earn a BA degree in education from Kansas State Teachers’ College in Emporia, also attending Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois for one year. He later earned an MA degree in education from Kansas State Teachers’ College. He was a member of the National Guard unit in Emporia in 1948-49.
While in Emporia, he met, fell in love with, and married Martha Stoner – a marriage made in heaven. Calvin and Martha had 5 children – Stephen, Stanley, Sharon, David, and Daniel.
Calvin was employed at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, KS from 1951-54. Calvin accepted a position as an elementary school teacher in Udall, KS in 1954. Moving to Miltonvale, KS in 1957, he became an elementary school principal. In 1961, he took a job in Lawrence, KS as an elementary school principal. He was principal of 3 different Lawrence schools from 1961-1993. During many of the summer breaks, he worked as a house painter. After his retirement in 1993, he acquired 3 rental houses in Lawrence.
Calvin was a member of the Lawrence Free Methodist Church (now called River City Church) for all 56+ years that he lived in Lawrence. He had a deep love of God and His word. He faithfully served God and his church in many roles there – Sunday School superintendent, treasurer, pastor’s cabinet member, building committee member, and church administrator. He and Martha made many friends there and had the respect of the entire congregation.
Calvin enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. He took his family on many summer vacations, especially to the mountains of Colorado. He implanted this love of the mountains to his children and his grandchildren. His older great-grandchildren seem to have caught the bug already. After Calvin’s retirement, he continued to travel and enjoyed seeing new places and familiar ones. He had 7 more years with Martha before she died in 2000. His travels often included his brother Virgil and Virgil’s wife Margaret.
The visitation will be held at the River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave., Lawrence, KS, 66047 at 12:00 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2023. The celebration of Calvin’s lifewill be held at River City Church at 2:00 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2023, with Larry Baldridge officiating. Interment to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery, 1605 Oak Hill Avenue, Lawrence, KS following the celebration of life service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to River City Church designating Debt Retirement, 3001 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, KS 66047, or Lakeview Village designating to Neighbors helping Neighbors, 9100 Park Street, Lenexa, KS 66215.
So very sorry for your loss but the obituary you wrote shows how CB much he was loved and respected. Calvin was not only the McAllister school principal where my children attended but the neighbor who lived across the street. He and his family did many kindnesses for our family, including baby sitting and taking the children to Sunday school.
I know he will be missed but his life, well lived, has been liberated to be in the heavenly realms.
Dan
Jerry and I are so sorry to learn of your Father’s passing. Prayers for you and your family.
Mary Kay and Jerry Samp
Please accept my most sincere sympathy in the loss of your father. I will always remember Calvin’s smiling countenance and kind words whenever we spoke. I only wish I had known him longer and better.
Sincerely, Diana Ice
I remember him as Mr. Rice, the principal of Sunset Hill Elementary when I was a boy growing up in the 1970s. He was a very good man and wonderful school administrator. He helped countless numbers of kids to grow up to be upstanding–and well educated–citizens. He will be missed. My condolences go out to his family and all those who were close to him.
I remember Calvin Rice from church. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Steve,
I’m thinking of you and the rest of your family during this time. May your father rest in peace.
Our deepest sympathies on the passing of Mr. Rice. We count ourselves lucky to have crossed paths with him when we were just about to get married. He was our landlord for ten amazing years. His influence and impact on our lives is something we carry with us daily. He was a member of our family and we cared very deeply for him and we will be eternally grateful for all the ways he cared for us as well.
My condolences for the loss of Calvin. He was a part of our church family for all the years that I have been at RCC. I have many great memories of his gentle quiet spirit and love of God! He will be missed here by many! He left a legacy of wonderful God fearing children and grandchildren. I’ve had the privilege to know a few of them.
Mr. Rice was principal at Sunset when my youngest daughter attended through 3rd grade. He was a wonderful principal and so supportive of his teachers, the students and the PTA. I always enjoyed visiting with him. Condolences to the family.
Dearest Rice Family…We are so sorry to hear of your loss. Cal was a fellow principal, but more important he was a good friend for the many years we were together in the Lawrence Schools. He was a good principal and family man. He loved his students, staff and family. We will fondly remember all his efforts and accomplishments, while he was in the schools. I remember fondly having Danny and David at Pinckney. May His blessings be with each of you and rest assured he is in a far better place.
Sincerely, Gary Freeman
My heartfelt condolences to your family today. I have fond memories of your father & family showing such kindness always to my family. Calvin & Martha will always have a special place in my heart and mind as well as their children. May God Bless You all with Peace and Love today and always.❤️🙏
I was a student teacher under Mr Rice. I appreciated the positive influence he offered. It is a statement to: you influence more people in your life than you realize. My thoughts and prayers to the family. I know he continued to make a positive difference in many more lives!