George H. Rice

RICE, George H., 99, of Media, PA, formerly of Emerson, NJ, passed away on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. He was born in Brooklyn, NY to Owen and Elizabeth Rice. Beloved husband of the late Mary Elizabeth Morley Rice and the late Anastasia Kuhn Rice. Devoted father of Mary Elizabeth Kolb and her late husband Rick, Kathleen W. Melesky and her husband James, Timothy O. Rice and his wife Karen, and Patrick J. Rice. Loving grandfather of Richard, Patrick, Robert and Edward Kolb; Michael, Dennis and Kevin Melesky. Cherished great-grandfather of Windy, Erik, Kaidance and Owen Kolb; Jack, Matt, Joey, Alyssa, Sara and Jimmy Melesky. George was a proudly decorated WWII Army veteran, belonging to the 96th Infantry Division. He served in the battle for Leyte as well as Okinawa; for which his division was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation for their efforts. George was also the recipient of the Purple Heart as well as the Bronze Star with clusters for his admirable service to our country. George was a very devout man, being a parishioner and choir member of R.C. Church of the Assumption for over 40 years. The family will receive their relatives and friends at Becker Funeral Home, 219 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ on Monday, January 2 from 5-7:30PM and at R.C. Church of the Assumption, Emerson, NJ on Tuesday, January 3 from 9:30AM-10:15AM with a Funeral Mass celebrating George’s life and faith to follow at 10:30AM. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations to covenanthouse.org would be appreciated.