Edward G. Rice

Edward G. Rice, age 91, of Apalachin, NY, peacefully passed away into the hands of God on Sunday August 3, 2025, after a brief illness. Edward was born on September 28, 1933 to Wilbert W. and Ruth E. (Custer) Rice. He is predeceased by his parents, brother W. James Rice, sisters Thelma Handelong and Evelyn Fay Crawford.
Edward is survived by his wife of almost 64 years Joan (Kilmer) Rice, his children and their spouses: son David Rice, daughters Diane (Thomas) Dellapenna, Deborah (Thomas) Pizza, Nicola Keptner, and Judith (Thomas) Brewer; eight grandchildren: Olivia and Thomas Dellapenna, Anna, Emily and Kathryn Pizza, Liam Keptner, Hilary Keptner (Steve) Hernick, and Nicholas (Lexy) Brewer; great-grandchild Noah Brewer; sister Peggy Konitsky, brother and sister-in-law Thomas and Anne Kilmer, and many nieces and nephews.
Edward was a graduate of Shade High School, served in the United States Marine Corps, and then returned to college graduating from the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University. He was an electrical engineer with IBM for over 30 years. When he retired, Edward started his second career as a “gentleman farmer,” spending countless hours on the Rice family farm and becoming a seasonal snowbird, spending the next 35 years enjoying Florida during the winter months and winning multiple shuffleboard championships with his wife Joan. He also enjoyed many cruises with Joan, traveling to multiple destinations including Hawaii, Alaska, the Bahamas, and the entire east coast of the United States. He was an avid bridge and pinochle player, fisherman, hunter and golfer, who was out on the opening day of deer season at 91 years old and scoring an eagle at age 90 at the 2024 Vestal EMS Golf Tournament. He always enjoyed a good polka and was most comfortable outside with nature and simply enjoying a sunny day. Edward was a good and simple man who loved his family, made every effort to ensure they had a better life than he did, and he will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him. Edward’s family would also like to extend our most heartfelt thanks to the medical team at Wilson Hospital North Tower 3 and the front lobby team who did everything to help him and make our visits as easy as possible.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 am, Wednesday, August 13 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 801 Main Street, Vestal. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at church, Wednesday, August 13 from 9:30 am until Mass time at 10:30 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice or the Vestal Volunteer Emergency Squad, 340 Vestal Parkway East Vestal, NY 13850.