Reverend Carl Rice, age 88 of Osgood passed away on Wednesday November 24, 2021. He was born into this great country on June 19, 1933, to Charles and Eva (Mallow) Rice. They were just simple country folks in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on a two-hundred and forty-three acre farm. He grew up along with his brother and sisters, farming the land with horses.
During the great depression and through the Great World War II, the Rice family was members of a little country church with about 25-40 members. They had a circuit minister, so services were held every other Sunday.
In the spring of 1947 an evangelist by the name of Sadie Triplett came and preached a revival. Carl was listening clearly when the lord called him to preach that day. At the end of spring, he preached his first message from I Peter 1:18-19 (Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot 🙂
In the year of 1949, an evangelist by the name of T.J. Bryant came and preached a revival in his church. Carl was hungry for the word, and he talked to Brother Bryant. Brother Bryant pointed him to God’s Bible School and College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He left his folks and the farm and went for a life of studying the Word of God. He was 17 and studying under some of the greatest professors of the time. He began teaching evangelistic work in the school. Carl thanked God daily for his wisdom.
Carl worked his way thru school, going to class until noon, then in the afternoon would take students into hospitals, jails and homes to work on his evangelism. After his school was paid for he made 9 cents an hour over his room and board. He works as a night watchman and telephone operator. His job was made easy by the lord.
In 1951 he was blessed to meet a wonderful young lady, Eva Joyce Ross, she was a student he was teaching. Their first date was to jail (ha ha) to spread the word of the lord. They were married in July of 1952. God blessed them with six children.
Carl dedicated his life to missionary work. He traveled to Haiti, the West Indies, Bahamas, and all across the United States spreading the word of God. He wrote numerous books, with several being published and made available to everyone. He last preached in 2005, but never missed a chance to share conversation on the Bible.
He will be missed by sons; Larry (Vicky), Gary (Connie) and Stephen (Sandra), daughters Linda (Terry) Black, Carla Bourbeau, and Cathy Rice, brothers Willis Sr., Allen, and Earl, 7 grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Eva, his parents, brothers Glenn and Kenneth, sisters Evelyn and Elsie and son-in-law Bob Bourbeau.
Visitation will be held on Monday November 28, 2021 from 10 am. – 12 pm. At Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood. Funeral Services at 12 pm. Also at Neal’s, with burial following at Perseverance Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the funeral home, where they will be used to purchase Bibles for under privilege children. Online condolences may be placed at Nealsfuneralhome.net