Pawleys Island Lodge 409

Pawleys Island Lodge 409

In Memory Of
WBro. Colonel William Henry Rice
April 13, 1930 – March 18, 2008

Visitation at Pawleys Island Lodge #409
All Masons and Non-Masons Invited
75 Haunted Trail
Friday March 21st
6:00 - 8:00 PM

Funeral Services
St. Paul's Methodist Church
180 St. Paul Place
Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Saturday March 22nd
11:00 AM
Military Honors and Masonic Services

Lodge Opens at 10:00 AM
Saturday March 22nd
for Lodge Members

PLEASE SIGN THE GUEST BOOK
(Masons or ALL Non-Masons Welcome)

Hugh “Hugger” Peteet

I came to know Bill when I was initiated into Masonry on April 8, 1997. It is hard to believe that meeting him was only ten years ago because he has touched my life in so many ways. I started helping him build docks and he decided to pay me for my help, but soon after that the payments were unnecessary as we found we were helping each other do so many things just because we liked working together. I will always remember when Bill, his lifelong friend Ray Allen and I were in the plough mud building a 200 foot dock walkway at Pawleys Creek and I, 17 years his junior, had to take more breaks than him. He was truly a man who liked to get the job done. He helped me do many more things than I did for him – he helped me build a new dock at my house and helped me paint my house. But most of all, he helped me to see life in a different way. I try every day to follow his example of helping people. I know I can never be the mentor and icon that Bill has been to thousands of others. But I like to think that I, and those thousands, will try to imitate him in some small way.

Steve Lacy

On every sports team there is always what we call an "Impact Player". To be named as that "Impact Player" in one sport for a short time is quite a feat for any man. In the case of our beloved brother, Col. Bill Rice, every facet of his life that he touched or was involved in; The United States Marine Corps, The Masons, The Methodist Church and ALL of our lives, he was not only an "Impact Player" but more appropriately a "Permanent Fixture" for life. He was a mentor to many, a friend to us all and, simply said, A Good Man! It is difficult to comprehend and accept, but our loss is definitely Heaven's gain.
Go with God Brother Bill Rice.
You will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
It was a true HONOR Sir. Thank you

Jeff Pelasra

We have lost our dear "Colonel Bill" today. It is a very sad day for masonry and for all Bill's family, friends and those who had the honor of meeting him. It will be a trying and difficult time for his family as well as his Brothers in the Lodge. But Col. Bill would want us to pull together and keep Pawley's Island Masonry alive. As for me, as Master, I have lost a Brother, best friend and a mentor all in one day. I would have never made it to the East without him and I surely wouldn't have gotten to know the wonderful Brothers of Pawley's Island Lodge without my initial meeting with Col. Bill.
God Bless You Bill
We will miss you greatly!!

Don Corinna

And to "Colonel Bill" we, The Marine Corps League, Swamp Fox Detachment, your Brothers in Arms, we say: "Semper Fidelis". Colonel Rice, we salute you and we shall miss you, your leadership and example and we wish you God Speed on your journey.
We look to seeing you once again on God's Parade Deck.
Corinna, Donald S. Sgt. USMC

Pat Rogers

I feel blessed that I was able to be there with Charline when Bill passed. I didn't see very much of him since our dock building days but I'll treasure the memories and miss him very much. It's amazing that such a "low key" individual can inspire such loyalty and devotion. Character of that caliber is hard to find and hard to let go of.

Ivan Wells

I stopped this afternoon and said a prayer for Brother Bill and his family. We will never know how our prayers are answered until that day when ".....we will know as we are known....". Although I had only known him a short time, his influence was great on me. We spoke at the last EA when he caught me praying with my eyes open....and I told him that I couldn't think with my eyes closed. It brought a chuckle to both of us. An insignificant event, but one that I will always cherish and that Bill and I shared together.

Steve Bosch

I first met Bill in 2005 when he came to interview me for admittance into PI Lodge 409. I remember thinking then that this is a very special individual as I was impressed with his demeanor and candidness. It would be months before I really got to know him. If ever there was "an upright man and Mason" one only had to look to WBro Bill to see what that statement really meant. I could always count on Bill to give me an honest and accurate assesment of my "work". I will miss my new friend and Brother and will always strive to be the Mason that he was. My sincere condolances go out to his family in their time of sorrow.
We will keep up his good "Work"

Grady Honeycutt

I've enjoyed my conversations with Brother Bill, he never failed to give me another way to look at things. Once we were discussing the technicals of teaching and he began to tell me about teaching nuclear physics in the Marine Corp, quite an interesting conversation. My last discussion with him, we were talking about the merits of Latin and the translations. He told me that he used to have a plaque on his desk that read "Non Illigitamus Carborundum"; I can still hear Brother Bill repeating its translation.
You will not be forgotten my friend.

Robin Rice Bolan

I first met Bill when he came through Pasadena CA on his way to fight in Korea. He rang the doorbell of our house, and I (in quarentine for chicken pox) opened the door to find him standing there. "Hi", he said, "I'm your Cousin Billy." I was a scrawny pre-teenager at the time and he was a handsome young man with the bluest eyes I had ever seen! I immediately got a crush on him! He was there for a few days, waiting for Charline to join him with their very new baby, Linda. He took me to play miniature golf and spent long days relaxing on our terrace and talking to us about the war. When I asked him about Charline, he smiled, stared up through the trees, and said, "She's my Georgia Peach!" I thought what a lucky person Charline was to have a man like this love her so much! I decided that my personal war effort would be to write to Bill, send him cookies every time we had an extra coffee can, and create the "Rice to Rice Post" with news of our family and cartoons from the Saturday Evening Post!!! I even knit him a pair of socks with "Wm. the Conqueror" worked into the toe area!!! Bill was my hero. He came through Pasadena again on his way home from Viet Nam many years later. We were in the middle of the Watts Riots and I remember sitting in our pool with him in the evening and discussing what this world was coming to. My Dad took him upstairs to look at a Baretta hand gun that he had just purchased to protect us all, and dear Bill told my gentle father that the best thing he could do with that gun was sell it!!! I cannot believe that this strong, virile, cousin of mine, with those bright blue twinkly eyes and that huge grin and a heart the size of Texas is no longer with us.
I wish I could have reminded him one more time that he was my hero!!

Glenn Krechel

WB Bill will be missed by all. He was a credit to the Fraternity and just a good person.

Richard Latshaw

We will all miss you. Great friend and Mason.

Peter Brill

Our deepest sympathies to his family. Bill will certainly be missed.
May he rest in peace.

Cono Marchionno

I remember Bro. Bill's sly smile, twinkle in his eye and ALWAYS the positive reply - we'll get it done! He was a friend to all and always willing to help no matter what was asked - he loved everyone. I will miss him but will never forget him.

Fred Kisner

I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Colonel Bill a little over ten years ago when I entered the Masonic lodge. Col. Bill was assigned as my coach and we began meeting every day for lunch and practice. The sandwiches Bill and Charline prepared were excellent, and the companionship was unforgettable. Col. Bill quickly became a friend, a boat restoration partner, and a mentor who taught me so much about Masonic knowledge and lessons in life. I will always cherish his friendship and the time we spent together. He was a “Class Act” in every aspect.
May God Bless You Bill
We will miss you deeply!

Franklin L "Frog" Bullock Jr.

God must've needed a good man. WB Rice will not be forgotten. I was very sorry to hear this news.

Joe Seman

My friend has left today and I didn’t get a chance to say farewell. He left so quickly; the vacuum pulled a hole in my heart and all I have are my tears to try to fill the void. My memories of a friend are competing with each other to earn a top position of favorite, and each time, a better one comes forward; a challenge I will deal with for a very long time to come. Certain friends in our life offer qualities that we wish to possess, but don’t understand how to obtain them for our development. A friend will teach us those qualities not by word alone, but by actions that transcend the spoken word and ingrained lessons of knowledge and text we could never afford to buy. Although we ask for the amount we are to pay for this enhancement, we are told by a friend that we are to teach those who seek the same from us as we did from him. When a friend teaches us his life’s skills, abilities and art of conduct, it never should stay as a possession, to savor selfishly. To honor this friend and keep his flame alive, pass those traits to the next generation for all to profit thereby. I will miss my friend for a long time. Save those who will listen. He will never be omitted in my future dealing with all mankind but, most especially Brother Masons. My friend has left today and I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye! Col. Bill, my father will meet you at that place not made with hands.
Fear not, he knows the way…
Semper Fi Marine!

John Evans

I only knew Bill for a short time but you could not ask for a better neighbor and more importantly a better example of a "good man".

David Feind

The Col will be missed and fondly remembered by us all.

Hans Reuter

I'm so sorry for your loss. Hope to see you all sometime again.

Vic Young

I wanted to do this earlier, but I just wasn't up to it. Because Polly and Charline worked together at Christmas At Pawleys since 1992, I had known Bill as a friend for about 15 years before I became a Mason. The "Colonel" was always ready to help me with any request from obtaining a dock permit to picking up the remaining items from a yard sale. As you well know, Hugger, somehow for the better part of a year I just wouldn't dedicate the time necessary for you and I to get through my degree memorizations. Then Bill decided to dedicate himself to getting me raised to Master Mason and that got me dedicated and you know how rapidly things went from there. I am so glad that things worked out that way.. It was a blessing from God for me because I know of no other circumstances under which I would have had the honor and the priviledge of spending so much one on one time with such a wonderful man and Worshipful Brother. I just hope that I can someday be as meaningful in someone else's life as Bill has been in mine.

Stuart Purvis

Although I am not a member of Pawleys Island Lodge I did get to know Bill Rice through his help to me with a lodge lecture. I found him to be a true mason and a gentleman to the core.

Jason Jackson

Bill will be greatly missed by all. In the short time that I have been a mason and had the honor of knowing him, I always looked at Bill as a cornerstone of our lodge and a great example of a man and mason. I will miss sitting in the South and looking over at Bill's many expressions he always made during each meeting or degree. I feel myself very privileged to have known such a man and him having a part in helping raise me to a master mason. I will always cherish his lecture in the second degree as Brian and myself were the first recipients

Jim Keller

A more dedicated Mason I don't think that I've ever met. Fair winds and following Seas.
Well done, Marine and Mason.

William J. Feind

Colonel Bill Rice was a Marine, a gentleman, a mentor. When I reported to the 10th Marine Regiment in September 1976, Colonel Rice was the Commanding Officer. There was an immediate respect for this Marine Officer that has never diminished over the years. We became good friends and shared many memories; Europe, sailing near Camp Lejeune, Colonel Rice's Georgia Chicken, and "Pig Pickings". After retirement we have visited each other here in Missouri and in South Carolina; picking corn with Col. Bill on the 4th of July last year.
Charline, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Semper Fi

The Pelasara Girls

Colonel Bill, "Uncle" Bill and "Honorary Grandpa" Bill, Although, we only knew you for a short time, we were touched by you, your smile and your kind words and works. We will cherish the fond memories of you. Every time we swing on our playset, we will remember how generous you were to give it to us and the time you spent putting it up. Carley will always remember her time spent with you delivering the meals at Christmas...what a life lesson she has learned that "it is better to give than to receive". You gave everyone your all and we were glad we were able to receive it. Thank you for all the time you spent with Jeff and the encouraging words you gave him. He is a much stronger person (mentally) because you were such an infuence on him.
We will miss you greatly!
Lesley, Carley and Casey

Steve Shaw

Billy Rice was my Fathers cousin. My father is Jim Shaw. Over my entire life I have heard from my father, with the highest reverence, of Billy Rice. He has been my fathers hero for 60 years. I have only met Billy a few times in my life but he is iconic in our small family. I am so glad to have had my family (wife Susan and 3 small children) experience Billy and the entire Rice Family for a weekend a little over a year ago. As my Dad always says Hero's never die in our hearts. His example will live in all of us.
My deepest sympathies to Charline and the entire Rice Family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Jim Jerrell

I was a Gunnery Sergeant, USMC, and served with Lt Col Rice in Vietnam. He was the best, and I was honored to have known him

Max A. Koontz

John Boyd and I were the ones who stood up for Bill at his first Lodge meeting. We were neighbors in Cary, NC when he lived there. An aspect of Bill's life that probably carried over into his later years, was his ability to have fun on almost any occasion, such as the time that Bill, another friend and I rode an uncontrollable refrigerator door down a steep snow covered road. His laugh is probably echoing still somewhere! The friend and I were at Bill's very first Masonic Lodge initiation, and he has honored every lodge meeting since then.
Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Enter into the joys of thy Father's Kingdom, Bill!!

SgtMaj Patrick Guinn USMC Ret

My Father, Major Rich Guinn; served with Col Rice in Vietnam and at Lejeune. His respect for Col Rice was enormous. I know that my father felt that Col Rice was a mentor to my father. Knowing quite a few of the Marines that served with my Father and Col Rice in Vietnam, and to a man they all had the utmost respect for him. For the entire Guinn family, I send their regrets for your loss and will keep Col Rice and his family in our prayers.
Semper Fi!

John H. Eager

I first met Col Rice at Gio Linh Vietnam where he welcomed me to the Battalion. He assigned me to Charlie Battery which at that time was at Gio Linh. During my time with the Battery and Battalion, Col Rice always looked after his Marines. He was a true gentleman and a professional Marine. He was a Marines Marine. It was again my pleasure to meet up with him again a few years ago at a reunion for Charlie Battery in Washington DC. Col Rice attended and the time we all got to spend with him was very special. I look forward to seeing him again when we cross the river.

Christian V. Holland, Jr

God Rest Your Soul Worshipful Brother Bill. I am sure God has a place for you at his right hand.You have been an inspiration to all of us.I feel very fortunate to have known you and had the priveledge of being in Lodge with you, especially during the Degrees. I was so impressed with your coaching work and your standing behind the masters as they administered the obligation.You would whisper in their ear when they would stumble. A few words from you got them right back on track. I would have been honored to have had more time with you. It will now have to wait until I take that final journey myself. Grand Strand Lodge # 392 join me in sending our sympathies and prayers to the family and many friends and brothers that have known you.

Michael Hoskins

Colonel Rice was my battalion CO in Vietnam and my mentor for the last several years. I know of no other man I have more respect for than the Colonel. His calm demeanor while we were under attack in Vietnam always led us through the dark nights of combat. Colonel Rice's artillery battalion, specificially Charlie 1/12 fought the first artillery duels of the Vietnam War. He was a great man, a great leader and will be forever missed by his Marines.
Semper Fi Sir... We will never forget you...

Marcia Guinn

Condolences on the passing of Col. Rice. He was my husband's (Maj. Richard Guinn) commanding officer in Vietnam and Camp Lejuene. Since Rich is no longer with us, I know he would like me to send his regrets

Jim and Joy Heidmous

Charlene, our deepest sympathy to you and your family over the passing of Bill. We have fond memories of you both and our Marine Corps association. God bless you and keep you in the palm of His hand during this time of sorrow.

Ian Moir - PM

I only visit Pawleys Island Lodge when staying at our condo at True Blue. When I first visited the lodge, Bill Rice was the first person I met. Bill examined me. I was truly impressed with him on my first encounter and every time afterwards in subsequent visits. His memory and knowledge of Masonis ritual was amazing. He will be missed very much.
My condolences to his family and to the lodge.

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Pawleys Island Lodge #409