Herbert James Rice

Our Daddy died on Friday, November 28, 2025. He was never Dad, he was always “Daddy”. Daddy was multitalented and wore many “hats” in his lifetime. There was nothing it seemed that he could not do. In his early years, he worked as a fire lookout in Montana. He also worked as a lumberjack. He was drafted into the Army and came to Fort Benning for jump training, where he met our Mother. He joined the Columbus Fire Department January 1, 1949, retiring on October 29, 1981 as a Battalion Chief.

He worked numerous part time jobs; painting signs and mural advertisements on buildings in the Columbus area, delivering appliances for Sears and J.C. Penney, installing drapery for Sears and J.C. Penney. He also worked with custom drapery makers as an independent contractor. Daddy mapped the whole city of Columbus, hand drawing gridded streets with fire hydrant locations. These maps aided in fire location before the days of GPS.

After retirement from the fire department, Daddy became a beloved school bus driver for the Muscogee County school district. He drove the school bus for 15 years. Daddy’s last job in Columbus was delivering prescriptions for Center Pharmacy, working there for 9 years.

Daddy was born in Roundup, Montana to Alfred and Myrrh (Cedersten). He is predeceased by his parents; Brothers Clyde and Clifford; Sisters Lillian Wallace, Alberta Dschaak, Helen Chercasen, Juanita Langley, Myrtle Koepke, and Freida Hamblin.

Left to mourn his passing are Brother Harold (Mary Jane) Rice and Sister Vivian (Wayne) Day, many beloved nephews, nieces and cousins.

Daddy married our Mother Joyce Dennis in 1946 in Columbus. They had three children Doris Grassi, Kenneth Rice and Steven Rice. Steven Rice and daughter in law Patricia predeceased Herbert in death.

Left to cherish his memory are Doris (Gus) Grassi, Kenneth Rice, and Grandchildren, Tracy (John) Girvan, Allen (Marcia) Rice, Tricia (Craig) Garner, Kristin (Brian) Nelson, Great Grandchildren, Elizabeth (Jeffrey) Dunn, Megan (Cullen) Smith, Army Major Sabastian Conour, Brian Girvan, Zoe Garner, Chase Nelson and Lainey Nelson, Great Great Grandsons, Liam and Ryder Dunn.

We were blessed to have our Daddy with us for so many years. He continued to his death to have his mental health, playing Mexican train dominoes and watching golf and college football. His detailed stories of his life events will be missed.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday December 13, 2025 in the Fisher Chapel of Striffler-Hamby Mortuary with Reverend Danny Courtney officiating.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. at the funeral home.

Herbert will be laid to rest with U.S. Army Honors and by the Columbus Fire Department Honor Guard in Parkhill Cemetery.