Obituary of V. Mae Rice

RICE - V. Mae, 88,of East Horner Street, Ebensburg, passed away November 10, 2007. Born September 5, 1919 in Pittsburgh, daughter of the late William D. and Mary Rhoda (Phillips) Haden. Preceded in death by husband Charles W. Rice, grandson Richard Rice, Jr., and sisters: Eleanor H. George and Elizabeth "Betty" S. Perry. Survived by children: Richard, married to the former Suzanne Coughlin, Portage; Barbara, wife of Michael McDade, Bangor, Maine; and Lt. Col. Philip Rice, stationed in Iraq. Also survived by grandson, Jeffrey Rice and wife Wendy, Kutztown, and sister Margaret Kipilo, Johnstown. A member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Johnstown, where she had served on the Board of Trustees, was librarian at the Christian Science Reading Room, and served as Reader. She was a graduate of the Ebensburg Cambria High School, Class of 1937 and attended the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. She worked for Bendex Corp as an expediter during World War II, she also held positions with Prudential Insurance in Portage and Nanty Glo, Avon Cosmetics as district manger, the United States Government as Secretary of the Draft Board in Ebensburg and with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the Department of Forestry at Ebensburg and the Department of Welfare at the Public Assistance Office in Johnstown. Mae was very active in the community, having served as a committeewoman for the Cambria County Republican Party, president of the VFW Auxiliary, Senior Citizens advisory board, past matron of Eastern Star Chapter #303 and board member for the Eastern Star Nursing Home in Pittsburgh, president of Ebensburg and Nanty Glo Business & Professional Woman, served on the former Ebensburg Betterment Council, president of Parents Without Partners, member of the Johnstown Toastmasters and was a Dale Carnegie Alumni, where she won international speech competitions. She was also well known for teaching 55 Alive driving courses and assisting senior citizens in filing income tax returns. She was a master gardener, enjoyed public speaking, played violin, loved her church and jewelry making. Mae held a pilot's license and flew planes from the Ebensburg airport. Friends will be received from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Monday at the Askew-Houser Funeral Homes, Inc., Ebensburg, where a funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, with Jennifer Drummey as Reader. An Eastern Star Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment at Lloyd Cemetery, Ebensburg.