Douglas Wilson Rice

Douglas Wilson Rice passed away peacefully in his wife’s arms the evening of July 4, 2016. Doug was born on October 22, 1926, to Eva and Eugene Rice in Amarillo, Texas. He graduated from Amarillo High School in January of 1945 and went directly into the US Army and World War II. He served in the 186th Infantry division and in ordinance in Japan for a total of 2 years. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended Amarillo Junior College and graduated from Texas Tech in 1952 with a degree in petroleum engineering. He worked for Tidewater Petroleum for 12 years. For a short time he owned and operated Wilshire Hardware and Sporting Goods in Dallas and then returned to petroleum engineering with Sohio, Crown Central, Teal and Grace Petroleum. He retired from Grace Petroleum as a district manager in 1986 after 34 years in the oil business. He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and worked with Junior Achievement. In 1952, he married Billie Jean Champion of Dallas and in 1958 they became the parents of twin sons, Mark Wilson and Michael Douglas. He was baptized in 1953 in the Methodist Church. Upon moving to Midland in 1968, the family joined Westminster Presbyterian Church (which later became Trinity Presbyterian Church). He served as a deacon and ruling elder of Trinity in the 1970's. After his retirement from Grace, he could often be found working around the church doing whatever was asked of him. He was part of Trinity Presbyterian Church until the day it closed and joined St Luke’s Methodist Church in December 2012. He lived his life as a devout Christian, a true patriot, a most honest man, and a loyal husband and friend . He deeply loved all his family unconditionally irregardless of any differences that arose over his 90 years. He loved to bowl, but his favorite sport was football. All his life he was a big Texas Tech and Cowboy fan - even when they were on a losing streak. He volunteered as a coach for his sons’ little league baseball team and as a boy scout assistant for his grandson’s troop. As the son of a carpenter during the Depression, he loved woodworking and repairing anything that could possibly be fixed. As a young man he became a very good duck hunter, later preferring dove hunting. He was also an accomplished fisherman and always packed his poles on trips...just in case he found water! He loved nature and growing a garden. He made it a priority to feed the birds in winter and the hummingbirds after winter. He and his brother shared a love and interest in pecans. He spent hours shelling pecans so the freezer was always full. After 1988, at the age of 62, he learned how to dance, go down all sorts of water park rides, river raft, ride amusement park attractions (only tried a roller coaster once-that was enough!) and traveled to many states and national parks that he had never seen before. On March 30, 1991, Douglas and Joan Elizabeth (Carvey) Southerland were married at Trinity Presbyterian after a three year courtship. Shortly after their marriage, he went to work for Swartz Framing Studio where he could put his woodworking skills to use. Health issues forced him to retire for good in 2004 after 12 years of doing one of the things he loved most. He readily accepted his step family as his own and spent endless hours attending his grandchildren’s activities as they were growing up - driving up and down I-20 every two weeks for soccer, following the MHS band around Texas, attending dance recitals and MCT productions, choir productions and their numerous church activities. Doug loved to sing and would break out in song even while washing dishes - usually ditties from his childhood, gospel music or classical western songs. He had a keen sense of humor and loved to tell jokes to anyone who would listen. He appeared to be a quiet man, but those who knew him, know he was full of spunk. He and Joan loved to dance and were members of the Rainbow Square Dance Club, the Just Dance Western Club and the Ballroom Dance Club until his second hip replacement. He especially liked to dance the cowboy polka and was very good at it.. He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Kenneth Rice and his older sister Geneva Rice Davis, three brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, one niece , two nephews and the mother of his sons, Billie Jean Rice He is survived by his devoted wife of 25 years , Joan - the love of his life (his description) , his younger sister Dorothy Cargile of Wildarado, his younger brother Wesley (wife Margaret) Rice of Ponca City, his step daughters Pamela Southerland (husband Andy) Lookabaugh of Midland and Sharla Southerland (husband Daniel) Hamil of Dallas, and his twin sons. Also left to cherish his memory are his grandchildren, Dale (wife Nicole) Lookabaugh of Midland , Justin Lookabaugh of Dallas and Brooke Lookabaugh of Midland, Christopher Michael Suvia of Midland, Justin Rice ( and his children) of San Angelo, and 2 young great grandsons, Nolan and David Lookabaugh of Midland. Also surviving him are his nieces Lynda (husband Fred) Sandlin of Abilene, Susan McBride of Wildarado. Cheryl Olbert (Everette ) of Virginia, Jeanette Rice of Ponca City, Susan Gandy ( Woody) of Dallas and his nephews Charles Davis of Lubbock, Clifford Rice of Ponca City, Rickey Rice of Dallas and Dan Tuffly of New Mexico along with numerous great nieces and nephews and four sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris Tuffly (Dallas), Cindy and Jack Sossoman (Topeka), Jackie and Ray Beaugh (Albuquerque) and Pat and Mike Stark (Phoenix) Services will he held at American Heritage Funeral Home at 3:30 pm on Monday, July 11, 2016 with Mary Beth Anton officiating assisted by his nephew-in-law Fred Sandllin. Burial with military honors will follow. Pall bearers will be Andy Lookabaugh, Daniel Hamil, Dale Lookabaugh, Justin Lookabaugh, Charles Davis, and Jonathon Cobb. Memorials can be sent to Hendrick Home for Children, P. O. Box 5195, Abilene, TX 79608- 5195. American Heritage will provide transportation for those unable to drive. Please call 563-9767 Sunday, to schedule a pick up.

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Douglas Wilson Rice

October 22, 1926 - July 4, 2016