Graveside funeral services for Wesley Arthur Rice, 88, of Chickasha, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 18, 2012, in the Memory Lane Cemetery in Anadarko.
Wesley Arthur Rice was born November 18, 1923 in Ft. Cobb, Oklahoma, the son of Granville Rice and Eunice Bagley Rice. He died October 15, 2012, at his home in Chickasha.
Wesley grew up in the Ft. Cobb area and attended Broxton Public Schools where he graduated from high school.
After high school graduation he became employed with Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Company for a year, before joining the U.S. Air Force. He served from May 1943 to December 1945, in the U.S. Air Force as a Navigator, on a B-24 during WW II.
He married Wilma L. Weber on June 15, 1945, in Lawton, Oklahoma.
After their marriage and his Honorable Discharge from the Air Force they made their home in Oklahoma City, where he became employed with First National Bank. He worked his way through many roles in the Banking Industry and served as Vice-President of several banks in and around the Oklahoma City area.
Wesley retired in 1982, as the Vice-President, of the First National Bank in Britton.
He enjoyed hunting in his younger years as well as playing golf various sports and played on several bowling team leagues.
He was preceded in death by both parents, one daughter, Brenda Rixleben and a grand-daughter, Ashleigh Rixleben.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma, of the home; one son and daughter-in-law, Perry and Quannah Rice, of Edmond; three grandchildren, Shelly Fryer, Chad Rice and Trey Rixleben and five great-grandchildren, Jacob, Halley and Zachary Rice and Peyton and Luke Fryer.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Inez Kinney Gaylord Emergency Women’s Shelter, C/O YWCA, 2460 N.W. 39 th , Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73112.
Services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.