Norman Rice

West Hurley-
Norman Wesley Rice, 91, of West Hurley, passed away Monday, July 4, 2022 at Kingston Hospital with his loving wife and family by his side.  Born on May 24, 1931 in Kingston, NY, he was the son of Arthur K. and Paula (Mosher) Rice.
He was married to Lillias DeGraff on March 2, 1952 at the West Hurley United Methodist Church.  Norm moved to West Hurley in 1940 to his mother’s homestead. He graduated from Kingston High School in the class of 1949. He was drafted into the United States Army in March of 1952 and was stationed in Jacksonville, SC for basic training before being sent to Germany for 17 months. He was honorably discharged in February of 1954. After serving, he began on the job training to become an electrical contractor. He owned and operated Norman Rice Electric for 32 years before retiring in 1990. He was a charter member and lifetime member of the West Hurley Volunteer Fire Department and a charter member of the Veterans Golf League.
After retirement, Norm and Lillias enjoyed many years traveling the United States, Panama, the Virgin Islands, Ireland, Germany and the Danube River. He enjoyed family vacations camping at Taconic State Park, Cape May, NJ and East Durham, NY. Norm loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, visiting the World’s Fair, New York City, Zoom Flume Water Park and many more.  He was an avid gardener, spending countless hours planting tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables. He loved going strawberry, blueberry and raspberry picking at Greig Farm in Red Hook. He and Lillias made maple syrup for over 30 years before passing it along to the next generation. He enjoyed golfing with his friends and his sons. He was a kind and generous man, looked to by many for advice and guidance. He was a man of true faith, reading his beloved Bible daily.

Norm is survived by his wife of 70 years, Lillias; his children, Wesley N. Rice and Linda and Robert (Bob) Woerthman; his grandchildren, Sara Woerthman and her husband, Rodrigo Torres, Jonathan Rice and his companion, Catherine Veytia, Jaimee Rice and Emily Woerthman and her companion, Dan Votke; his daughter-in-law, Randee Osgood; as well as many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Arthur E. and Donald G. Rice; two sisters, Charlotte Howland and Sylvia Staffa.

A gathering will be held at E.B. Gormley Funeral Home, 87 Main St. Phoenicia on Saturday, July 9, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. with his friend of over 50 years Rev. John Needham as celebrant. Military honors will be provided by the Woodstock American Legion.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Norm’s memory may be made to the Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration, P.O. Box 797 Lake Katrine, NY 12449.  You may share a special memory or condolence with the family on Norman's Tribute Wall at www.gormleyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Norman Rice, please visit our floral store.