Pleasanton — Joe Willard Rice passed away on December 31, 2022, at the age of 95.
He is survived by his daughters, Caron Tuttle and her husband Eldon, and Dana Scott and her husband Kenny, granddaughters, Lauren Quincey and husband Michael and Erinn Walker and husband Evan, and two grandsons, Liam Quincey and Samuel Walker, with another on the way.
Anyone who knew Joe Rice, knew someone who lived life fully and vibrantly making connections and memories with
people everywhere he went. His life started in Lockhart, Texas on April 9, 1927, when he was born to Frank Rice and Francis
“Frankie” Smith Rice. Joe’s adventures began at a young age because his father worked as a superintendent for Shell Oil
which allowed him to move his family around, including to Freer where Joe would later live and start a family.
They lived in Premont when Joe was in high school, and it was then in June 1945 that Joe enlisted in the US Airforce at the age of 18. Joe was soon sent to Fort Bragg, North Carolina to receive training to become a tail gunner, but when WWII ended in September, he instead received his diploma to be a teletype and communications operator by October. Joe served more than a year overseas as a Corporal in the US Airforce stationed in France and with time in Germany to support the post war transition communication between the US and Europe. Joe was later honorably discharged in December1946 with a WWII Victory Medal, a Good Conduct Medal, and an Army of Occupation, Germany Medal. When Joe returned to the states, he used his new experience in communications to get a job for Southwestern Bell that sent him all over south Texas. It was one of these trips he went to
Baytown, Texas that he met the love of his life, Charlene Westfall. In August 1949 he and Charlene got married in Liberty, Texas and then moved to Premont, Texas together.
Joe continued to expand on what he learned from his time serving. He later enlisted in the reserves, and also volunteered
for the Civil Air Patrol where he got his pilot’s license. The Civil Air Patrol is a federally supported non-profit organization
that helps find the lost, provides comfort in times of disaster, and keeps the homeland safe. Joe joined the Freer Air Club where
he regularly enjoyed flying his plane. Joe also continued to explore communication technology and transferred his skills to
learn to repair televisions to support himself and his new wife.
In April 1960 they welcomed their child, Caron Reve’ Rice into the world. It was the growth of their family that inspired Joe
and Charlene to start a retail business, selling TVs, appliances and furniture. This business was so successful that by the ‘70s
they were led to open a store in downtown Freer called “Rice Furniture and Appliance.”
In 1976, Joe got an offer to sell the business and, on a whim, accepted. However, they missed the work and decided to reopen Rice
Furniture in a new location, and chose Poteet, Texas. Joe and Charlene ran their business as a team for decades and it became the life that they loved. It evolved throughout the years to a place where their daughter worked, and eventually where they helped raise their grandchildren.
Joe and Charlene were passionately married for 68 years, and after nearly five years apart since Charlene’s passing in
2018, we know they are so happy to be fully reunited.
A private graveside service will be held at Luling City Cemetery.