February 6, 1932 Roy M. Rice and Frances (bootsie) Rice had a son Kenneth Harold Rice, born in Hartselle Al. he was one of 3 children, Dr. Gene D. Rice (brother) and Shirley Maloney (sister). The young family moved to Lenoir City, Tn where Harold went to Concord elementary. After a while they moved to Somerville, Alabama and then to Mobile, Alabama where he attended Murphy High. One day Harold and his friends rode their motorcycles to Theodore High where a beautiful young lady Mary Lou Barlow was taking an exam. She looked out the window and said to her friend “Hurry up and finish that test I have got to go meet that boy!” It was love at first sight for Mary and they started dating right away and became engaged. Suddenly, Roy Rice lost his job and had to move to Paynesville, Ohio where he and Harold would work at the Ohio Rubber Co. Harold decided to come back to Mobile for Labor Day weekend to see Mary and he said, “you want to get married?” So, they went to Mississippi to get married. On August 29, 1951 Harold and Mary were married by the Justice of the Peace at a local gas station because the courthouse was being renovated.
In June of 1952 Harold was inducted into the army where he served for 2 years at Fort Jackson in S.C. As 4 couples shared a chicken coop for living quarters times were hard, but love abounded. Linda Ann the first born made her debut on Thanksgiving Day 1952. In 1954 he was discharged and returned to work at the Ohio Rubber Co. That year he became a father again, another girl Deborah Faye Rice and she died in January of 1955 of pneumonia and is buried in Paynesville, Oh. In a winning streak for females Betty Jean was born in 1956 in Paynesville, Ohio. The caboose arrived in 1958 a premature baby boy who stayed in the hospital for 59 days and that little rascal was Kenneth Melvin Rice!
Eventually the family moved to Linden, Al where Gene pastored, and he worked with him building houses. Gene was led to start a church in Huntsville, Al on Virginia Blvd. Harold was by his side and worked constructing the tent until the church could be built. Then on good Friday 1960 Harold and Mary were talking with Gene and Betty and he told Harold about a blind piano player that was going to be singing and playing at Governors Dr. COG (College Park). Harold said I think I would like to see that! So Harold and Mary went with Gene and Betty. Gene was invited to the stage to greet the people and suddenly the pastor moved by the Holy Spirit said, “Gene I want you to preach tonight.” He preached a sermon called “The Transforming Power of God”. 1 Samuel 10:6 (And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them and shall be turned into another man.) He was never the same from that day on, he received the lasting touch and that day defined the rest of his life.
Harold and Mary were saved and became active members of the Virginia Blvd COG and served there for decades. During his life he taught the youth and men’s Sunday school class. He was also the YPE director, served on the pastor’s council and building committee as well as being a trustee of the church. He loved to lead singing and worship God, he sang in a trio with Ray and Fay Hardin for years. He served in a multitude of roles in the church for the rest of his life including mission trips to Honduras where he used his construction skills.
In the 1971 he got an electrical degree. He worked at Boeing on the night shift and attended Calhoun during the day. It was a difficult time for him, but he was determined to provide a better life for his family. His efforts paid off when he started building McDonalds in 13 states. In 1978 he built Burger Kings in 3 states for 3 years. In 1981 he began Kenneth H. Rice Building Contractor Inc. He built custom homes until he retired.
One of Harold’s favorite places was Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama where he purchased land and built a home and made memories of a lifetime, along with friends and family. He loved playing cards (Rook) and Dominoes. For years, the coffee flowed late into the night as he was often the winner and that brought him a lot of joy! He was an avid golfer as well and would sometimes play 36 holes or more! His days of playing pool in his youth never left his hands. He could beat anyone with his trick plays on the pool table and smile the entire time. He loved to laugh and smile.
Proverbs 13:22 says “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” That good man was Harold Rice. He helped his children and grandchildren start various companies with his financial backing and advice, some of those companies are still growing today. He instilled the love of family and God into all his family for generations to come. This legacy will forever be known when we get to heaven and see the many people that Harold Rice helped and lead to the Lord including his own family. That is truly an inheritance.
Mary Lou Barlow Rice, the love of his life and his partner in sickness and in health. Harold would sing to Mary (You are my Sunshine) Play tricks on her, fish for hours with her, work construction jobs with her and one of his favorite things was decorating for the holidays! Any holiday! They were knitted together through 69 years of marriage, love, and total devotion to each other. They have one of the greatest love stories every told…….to be continued one day in heaven.
The Rice family would like to acknowledge and thank Tut Fann Veteran's Home for their outstanding care given to Kenneth. They would also like to recognize Tonia Logan, CNA at Tut Fann. We love you so much Tonia for the special care and love you have given to Kenneth. You are a blessing to our entire family.
