Jonah N. Rice Sr.

Weaverville - Jonah Nepolean Rice, Sr., 90, of 260 McLean Road died Thursday, June 27, 2002 at St. Josephs Hospital following a period of declining health. A native and resident most of his life in Madison County. He had resided in Buncombe County since 1986. He retired in 1974 after 33 years of service with American Enka Corp where he was a machinist. Mr. Rice was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church where he was a former Deacon and S.S. Class Teacher of the Mens Bible Class. He sung in many Gospel Quartets, served as chairman of the Madison County Singing Convention and was an avid fisherman and sportsman. He was a son of the late Thomas Sheppard Rice and Aletha Jane Tweed Rice and was the former husband of Frankie Marie Gentry Rice who died in 1985. He was also preceded in death by his son Jonah N. Rice, Jr. formerly of Asheville and six sisters and five brothers. Surviving are his wife, Ardath Carson Rice of the home; daughters, Doris Rice Burnette and husband, Ernest and Peggy Rice Roberts and husband, Craig all of Marshall; step daughter, Barbara Peek Riddle of Weaverville; daughter in law, Helen Jones Rice of Asheville; 5 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with the Revs Keith Watkins, Eb Jenkins and Mr. Timothy Burnette officiating. Burial will be in Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 18293, Asheville, N.C. 28814 or to the Brian Center, 78 Weaver Blvd., Weaverville, NC, 28787, of which the family would like to extend their sincere appreciation for the love and support given to our family.