Obituary for Robert Ivan "Uncle Ben" Rice
Robert “Bobby” Rice, age 80, of Marshall, passed away May 8, 2023. He was a son of the late William and Zora Taylor Rice.
Bobby grew up on a 15-acre farm nestled in the outskirts of Madison County, close to the Tennessee line. The family raised tobacco, corn, and hay. He and his siblings were raised to get up early, work the herd of cattle, and help with farm chores before going to school. When he was 14 years old, Bobby would plow gardens for others, to earn a little extra income. After the farm chores were finished, Bobby would go with his father down to the local mom and pop store to just “hang out and shoot the bull” with neighboring farmers. Bobby lived his whole life on the family property. In 1962 he married Mary Ann and together they raised three children. They instilled in their children the importance of a good work ethic, which Bobby was very proud of.
Bobby knew at an early age that he wanted to become a truck driver, he kept telling his teachers, that’s what he wanted to do in life. He received his chauffeur’s license at the age of 18 and went to work pulling a 10-wheeler hauling coal for his mentor, Robert Rice, of no relation. He stayed with Robert for 3 years, and then transitioned to operating big rigs. For the next 7 years he would work with an oil company pulling tankers running regional work. Bobby hauled grain trailers running as an owner/operator for 15 years with a company out of Dandridge, TN. At the age of 44, Bobby got his own authority – Rice Trucking. He purchased a refrigerated trailer along with a 1985 KW cabover to transport produce for a supermarket chain. In 2000, Bobby joined the fleet at Everhart Transportation Inc and ran a direct haul for 18 years straight to Florida and back 3 times a week, transporting UPS freight. With 61 years of truck driving experience, he has traveled up to 45 states, liking the scenery of Minnesota and Florida best. Balancing life between on the road, and quality time with family was challenging, and he gives much credit to Mary Ann as the glue that held his family together. Bobby worked for over 61 years as a truck driver and logged over 5-million lifetime miles.
Truck driving is a tricky line of work, and it wasn’t easy for Bobby and Mary Ann. In 1975, Mary Ann lost her right arm due to an electrical accident. This proved to be very challenging, but Mary Ann refused to accept the outcome as a setback. They held on as tight as they could to their faith and were able to overcome the unexpected. In 1985, Bobby suffered a heart attack. This tested their faith, yet once again and were able to overcome it.
When Bobby was taking time off from truck driving, he would work around the house and in the yard. He was an outdoorsman and loved spending his days outside on the very ground he tended to while growing up. He enjoyed going to church and was a Deacon and Sunday school teacher at Hopewell Baptist Church.
Bobby leaves 3 pieces of advice behind, 1) Be open to receiving advice, 2) find a job you’re passionate about and don’t settle, and 3) Believe and trust in the Lord.
In addition to his parents, Bobby is preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Morrow; brother, Roger Rice; and special dog, Pebbles.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann Hollifield Rice; daughter, Rebecca Ramsey (Charlie); sons, James Michael Rice (Janice), and Ricky Rice (Cathy); 7 grandchildren, Rockelle Flemming, Megan Riddle, Angela Taylor, Samantha Dobbs, Tiffany Smith, Danielle Rice, and Bethany Linville; and 14 great grandchildren, Cameron, Nevaeh, Taylor, Rylea-Ann, Halden, Ava, Charlestynn, Zach, Harper, Zorianna, Maisie, Jackson, Carson, and Brylee.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday May 11, 2023, in the Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Rev. Dalton Ramsey, Rev. Dr. Harry Culbertson, and Rev. Dennis Anderson will officiate. The family will receive friends 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Bowman-Rector Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
Bobby grew up on a 15-acre farm nestled in the outskirts of Madison County, close to the Tennessee line. The family raised tobacco, corn, and hay. He and his siblings were raised to get up early, work the herd of cattle, and help with farm chores before going to school. When he was 14 years old, Bobby would plow gardens for others, to earn a little extra income. After the farm chores were finished, Bobby would go with his father down to the local mom and pop store to just “hang out and shoot the bull” with neighboring farmers. Bobby lived his whole life on the family property. In 1962 he married Mary Ann and together they raised three children. They instilled in their children the importance of a good work ethic, which Bobby was very proud of.
Bobby knew at an early age that he wanted to become a truck driver, he kept telling his teachers, that’s what he wanted to do in life. He received his chauffeur’s license at the age of 18 and went to work pulling a 10-wheeler hauling coal for his mentor, Robert Rice, of no relation. He stayed with Robert for 3 years, and then transitioned to operating big rigs. For the next 7 years he would work with an oil company pulling tankers running regional work. Bobby hauled grain trailers running as an owner/operator for 15 years with a company out of Dandridge, TN. At the age of 44, Bobby got his own authority – Rice Trucking. He purchased a refrigerated trailer along with a 1985 KW cabover to transport produce for a supermarket chain. In 2000, Bobby joined the fleet at Everhart Transportation Inc and ran a direct haul for 18 years straight to Florida and back 3 times a week, transporting UPS freight. With 61 years of truck driving experience, he has traveled up to 45 states, liking the scenery of Minnesota and Florida best. Balancing life between on the road, and quality time with family was challenging, and he gives much credit to Mary Ann as the glue that held his family together. Bobby worked for over 61 years as a truck driver and logged over 5-million lifetime miles.
Truck driving is a tricky line of work, and it wasn’t easy for Bobby and Mary Ann. In 1975, Mary Ann lost her right arm due to an electrical accident. This proved to be very challenging, but Mary Ann refused to accept the outcome as a setback. They held on as tight as they could to their faith and were able to overcome the unexpected. In 1985, Bobby suffered a heart attack. This tested their faith, yet once again and were able to overcome it.
When Bobby was taking time off from truck driving, he would work around the house and in the yard. He was an outdoorsman and loved spending his days outside on the very ground he tended to while growing up. He enjoyed going to church and was a Deacon and Sunday school teacher at Hopewell Baptist Church.
Bobby leaves 3 pieces of advice behind, 1) Be open to receiving advice, 2) find a job you’re passionate about and don’t settle, and 3) Believe and trust in the Lord.
In addition to his parents, Bobby is preceded in death by his sister, Margaret Morrow; brother, Roger Rice; and special dog, Pebbles.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann Hollifield Rice; daughter, Rebecca Ramsey (Charlie); sons, James Michael Rice (Janice), and Ricky Rice (Cathy); 7 grandchildren, Rockelle Flemming, Megan Riddle, Angela Taylor, Samantha Dobbs, Tiffany Smith, Danielle Rice, and Bethany Linville; and 14 great grandchildren, Cameron, Nevaeh, Taylor, Rylea-Ann, Halden, Ava, Charlestynn, Zach, Harper, Zorianna, Maisie, Jackson, Carson, and Brylee.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday May 11, 2023, in the Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Rev. Dalton Ramsey, Rev. Dr. Harry Culbertson, and Rev. Dennis Anderson will officiate. The family will receive friends 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Bowman-Rector Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.