Thomas Patrick Rice's Obituary
Thomas Patrick Rice, Tom, age 73, died January 16, 2022, in San Bernardino, CA, from cancer. Tom was born in Barstow, CA, the second son to Jack and Kathleen Rice. His family moved from Dagget, CA to Detroit, MI for a short time, then ultimately to San Bernardino, where Tom spent most of his life. He graduated from Pacific High School, and then joined the U.S. Army from 1968 - 1971, serving bravely in Vietnam.
Upon his return to civilian life, Tom held a few odd jobs, until finding his niche at M.C. Nottingham Co. in Highland, CA. Over the 48 years of his employment there, the business changed hands multiple times, but Tom remained a steadfast and necessary employee throughout. He retired in 2020.
Tom met his future wife Sarah in 1975. They were married on September 13, 1990. He was a loving and patient husband, always understanding and dependable. His brothers, step-children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren regarded him with great respect, admiration, and deep affection. Tom was a reluctant patriarch, but his down-home wisdom, mixed with his quick, dry humor, brought laughter, clarity and calm to even the most difficult of situations.
He had spent years restoring his 1963 Chevrolet Stepside “Ol’ Green,” and had nearly finished it before his death. He enjoyed a lifetime of fishing and spoke fondly of a particular fishing trip to Alaska he took in the 1990s.
Tom is survived by his wife, Sarah Rice; stepchildren Carrie Evans and her husband Randall, Dennis Cartwright, Ronald Cartwright and his wife Sylvia, Tina Johnson and her husband Steve, and Scott Brodie; grandchildren Shelli Stovall and her husband David, Daniel May, Olivia Walker, Jaime Cartwright, Jenna Cartwright, Ronald Cartwright, Christian Cartwright, Hayley Brodie, and William Brodie; great-grandchildren Brianna Stovall, Zachary Stovall, Joshua Stovall, Sophia Stovall, Jackson Atchley, and Luna Atchley; and brother Timothy Rice.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Kathleen Rice, and his brothers George Rice and Terry Rice.
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