Daniel Rice

Daniel Paul Rice, 95, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 29, 2016, at his home.

He was born April 19, 1921, in Burnham, Missouri, to Daniel B. and Sidna Alice Jones Rice. He and Miss Ruby Lee Spencer were married May 10, 1946, at St. Clair, Missouri.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years; three sons, Donald E. Rice of Houston, David A. Rice of Richardson, Texas, and Kenneth O. Rice of Wimberley, Texas; five grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; two sisters; and two grandchildren.

He enlisted in the Army Air Force in the spring of 1942 and served his country in World War II as a B-24 pilot with the 15th Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. He flew 26 combat missions and spent 17 months as a POW in Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany.

Paul returned to civilian life in January 1946, earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering at the Missouri School of Mines and pursued a career as an engineer in the field of electric power, transmission and distribution. He retired from Ameren UE on May 1, 1986.

Paul was a member of First Presbyterian Church until his health began to fail him.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Charles Gililland officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri, or Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.