Orval Lloyd Rice

Lt. Col Orval L. Rice USAF (ret) On February 27, 2013, Dad took off on his last flight at 12:05 AM. Dad was born in a Mennonite/Amish community in Bee County, TX on December 12, 1915 to Archibald Loyd Rice and Magdalena Rachel Schrock. Dad's early years saw the family move from farming in Texas to coalmining in Lander, WY, and back to farming in Shipshewana and Goshen, IN. Dad graduated from Concord Township High School in Middlebury, IN, class of 1933. While in high school, Dad found he had a real talent for making and fixing things, especially cars. After graduation Dad moved to Benton Harbor, MI where he had relatives and went to work at Bendix. In early 1941 Dad noticed the identical Bullinger twins. He chose to marry the quiet one (good choice Dad). Dad married Erma Faye Bullinger on October 4, 1941 in Benton Harbor. Their life was soon changed when Dad enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 19, 1941. Their life of traveling around the country and Dad's military career began. When the call went out for more pilots, Dad jumped at the chance and graduated flight training Class of 43D and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. After WWII, Dad and Mom returned to Benton Harbor, Dad transferred to the newly established Air Force Reserves and opened his auto body shop. Soon they began their family Janet, Carol, and Lloyd. However, their life was changed again when Dad went back on active duty as a pilot in 1953 for the Korean War. Since the military life suited the family, Dad decided to make the military a career. After traveling around the world with the family, and a few top-secret missions, Dad finally retired from the Air Force after his last tour in Viet Nam on February 1, 1970 and set up farming near the town of Roy where he raised Scottish Highlander cattle, gladiolas, and converted one half of the dairy barn into an auto body shop and the other half into a show horse stable area. During Dad's military career he flew the PT17 Stearman biplane, BT13 single engine, Beachcraft AT10; B17, B29, and B25 bombers; KB29 and KC97 air refuelers; C47, C54, C118, C124, and C141 transport aircraft. Dad logged a total of 9,938.6 career flight hours. Dad was predeceased by his first wife, Anna Marie Zandarski and infant son in 1940, his brothers and sisters-in-law Harry and Mary (Riegsecker) Rice, Jessie Rice, Leo and Marge (Freyer) Rice, and Fred and Alma (Collars) Rice. Dad is survived by his wife of over 71 years Erma, children Janet Eversole, LtCol Carol Miskill USMC (ret), and LTC Lloyd and Barbara (Suthard) Rice WAARNG (ret) and grandchildren GMC Nathan and Wendy (Dodson) Miskill USCG, Rachael Miskill, Russel Eversole, Christina Eversole, and Emily Rice. Dad is also survived by his adored half-sister Opal Martelle of Ridgeland S.C. and his favorite cousin Gladys Ringo of Shipshewana, IN. The family extends it sincere appreciation to the dedicated caregivers of Stafford Suits Assisted Living in Sumner and to MultiCare Hospice for making Dad's last days happy and comfortable. Dad's military burial service with full honors will be held at 1:15, March 18, Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent