Stuart Rice

Asheville – Stuart Hadford Rice, age 89, passed away on Veterans Day, November 11, 2021 at his home. He was born on April 7, 1932 in Asheville, NC. He was a life-long resident of Buncombe County. He graduated from Weaverville High School in 1950, lettering in football, basketball and baseball. He also attended Asheville-Biltmore College from 1950-1952 on a basketball scholarship. Stuart enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1952 and proudly served his country for four years during the Korean War. He was first stationed in Wichita, Kansas and then achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant at the Northeast Air Command Headquarters in St. Johns, Newfoundland. Stuart worked in his family business, H.M. Rice & Sons Construction Company, for 33 years. During this time, he was involved in the construction or renovation of over 30 churches and numerous commercial buildings throughout Western North Carolina. In his second career, he was a respected Building Inspector with Buncombe County Permits and Inspections retiring in 2002 after 18 years of service. Stuart was a real estate investor, building and selling homes in local communities, and also partnered with his son, Tim, in several hospitality projects. Stuart was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Weaverville and most recently a member of First Baptist Church of Asheville. He was the son of the late Hubert Murphy Rice and Annie Laura Waddell Rice. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ronald Rice as well as his wife Geraldine Shuford Rice who passed away in August of 1993. He was also preceded in death by his constant companion, Polly Layman who passed away in March of 2019. Stuart is survived by his daughter, Stacey Rice of Portland, Oregon; son, Tim Rice (Lori) of Asheville; six grandchildren; Natalie Rice (Judd), Jeremy Rice (Madison), Madison Wright (Paul), McCall Rice, Caroline Sgan and Abby Sgan; Former Daughter-in-Law, Tammy King; Brother-in-Law Jim Shuford; Sister-in-Law, Laura Lanier; and lifelong family friend Laetitia Jones. Also survived by his four great-grandchildren; Dax, Amos, Charlotte and Mack. On behalf of Stuart, the family would like to extend our gratitude for the compassionate caregivers who gracefully provided support to him and to us over the past three months - Bea Smith and the CarePartners Home Hospice staff, specifically Marsha Lunsford and Sarah Davies. Services will be held on Saturday, November 20th at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Asheville. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service at 1:00 pm. Stuart’s nephew, Rev. Dr. Alan Rice and Rev. Leah Brown will officiate the service. Burial will immediately follow at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Asheville (5 Oak St., Asheville, NC 28801) or First Baptist Church of Weaverville - Building Fund (P.O. Box 547, Weaverville, NC 28787).