Norman Wardell Rice, age 84, of 1228 Crestwood Ave, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Friday, July 10, 2015 at the Brian Center in Low Moor.

Norman was born October 5, 1930, in Covington, Virginia, to the late Wilton Norman and Pauline Worsham Rice.

He was a retired shipping foreman from the former Hercules, Inc. in Covington.

He was a member of the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder and was also a member of the church choir

. He was a member and former Chief of the Clifton Forge Fire Department, former member of the Covington Fire Department, a member and Past President of the Virginia Fire Firefighters Association, he served on the Clifton Forge City Council as Vice-Mayor for a number of years, Virginia Planning Commission, the Long Range Planning Commission and the State Selective Commission, he was also a Past President of the Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce.

One of Norman's favorite community involvements was to serve as Santa Clause to many area organizations and families throughout the Alleghany Highlands.

Other than his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Wilton N. "John" Rice and a brother-in-law, Gus Henderson.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Whiteside Rice of Clifton Forge; a daughter, Amy Rice Dew of Clifton Forge; two sons, Keven Rice and wife, Cindy of Clifton Forge and Paul Rice and wife, Susan of Fincastle; a sister, Barbara Henderson of Roanoke, and a sister-in-law, Jean Rice of Covington; six grandchildren, Lauren Glass and husband Todd, John Rice, Caty Dew Bradberry and husband, Zack, Ethan Dew, Elizabeth Rice and Ben Rice; also a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Monday July 13, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home with the Reverend Paul Brokaw and Mr. Chris Fisher officiating. Interment will follow in the Mountain View Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Billy Williams, Sam Clark, Glenn Mays, Bill Hardbarger, Richard Claterbaugh, Ronnie Black and Jim Eller. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Kahle, Jim Laughlin and members of the Clifton Forge Fire Department.

The family received friends Sunday evening at Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

The family request that memorial contributions take the form of donations to the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church, 544 Church St., Clifton Forge, Va. 24422 or the Clifton Forge Fire Department, 701 Church St., Clifton Forge, Va. 24422.