Robert S. Rice, 87

Robert S. Rice, of Silverdale, died Jan. 24, 2007, at the Life Care Center in Bothell. He was 87.

Mr. Rice grew up in New Haven, Conn., and attended preparatory school and college on scholastic scholarships. He was on his college crew, football, track and tennis teams.

During World War II, he was a Navy dive bomber and fighter pilot and completed 86 combat missions, including the first attack by a U.S. carrier aircraft on Japan. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also a commercial pilot for more than 45 years.

His varied interests included worldwide travel and he also was a host for several cruise lines. He enjoyed hiking, mountain climbing, skiing, bowling, swim aerobics, duplicate bridge, singing in choirs and writing for publications. Mr. Rice served on the Boards of The Retired Officers Association, Community Concert Series Association and church councils. He was a member of the Association of Naval Aviation.

In 1987, Mr. Rice received his college’s highest alumni award, the Colby Brick, “for distinguished service as Class President, and Class Agent for over 30 years.” His career included working in different capacities for several major organizations, including Seafirst Bank, Standard Oil and Xerox. He also was president of a commercial photography business in New York City.

Mr. Rice also was a Scoutmaster and Cubmaster in Bremerton. He fought fires for the Forest Service in Washington, mined for gold in Arizona and Alaska and hitchhiked eight times across the United States in the late ’30s and early ’40s.

Mr. Rice is survived by his children, Judy Simon of Bothell, Bill Rice of Auburn, Shelley Rice of Denver, Colo., and Gordon Thoren of New York City. He was blessed with two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Mr. Rice is at 1 p.m. next Saturday, Feb. 10, at Silverdale Lutheran Church, 11701 Ridgepoint Drive NW. Interment will be at 1:45 p.m. on Feb. 12, at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent.