William Kelley Rice

Burlington: William Kelley Rice, Jr., 89, was ushered into the presence of his Lord on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 after a brief illness. A Memorial service will be held Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 1:00 PM at Apple’s Chapel Christian Church with Rev. Dave Johnson and Rev. Tom Osterhaus officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with military honors. Participants are invited to take part in a time of fellowship and light refreshments in the church’s fellowship hall afterwards. Kelley was born in Darnestown, Maryland. He attended Gaithersburg High School and afterwards served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. Upon completion of his military service, he graduated with honors from Western Maryland College, during which he excelled on the soccer field. While there, he met the love of his life, Eileen Weeks and together they cherished 66 years of marital bliss. He enjoyed golf, hunting, tennis and was an avid apiarist. Kelley was a skillful sailor and enjoyed many years on his catamaran with his family and friends in Cape Cod. His community service included being a volunteer fireman in Baltimore City and Baltimore County for over 50 years, especially in Hereford, Maryland. Central to his life was his family of two daughters and their children and grandchildren. He served as an Elder of Valley Presbyterian Church for many years. Kelley is survived by his wife, Eileen; two daughters: Janice Myers and husband, Allen and Peggy Posey and late husband, Roger; grandchildren: Daniel Myers, Emily Alford, and Whitney and Spencer Posey; and four great grandchildren. In honor of Kelley’s practical nature, the family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hereford Volunteer Fire Company, 510 Monkton Rd., Monkton, Maryland 21111 or Apple’s Chapel Christian Church, 7345 NC 61 North, Gibsonville, NC 27249.. Condolences may be made to the family at www.wilkersonfuneral.com.