Robert Leon Rice was born on August 30, 1932, in Enid, Oklahoma, and departed this life on Friday, May 6, 2016, in Shawnee Oklahoma, at the age of 83.

Leon, the son of Robert Cecil and Eva Iona Culbertson Rice, was a resident of Meeker.

He married the love of his life, Annitta Lou Rapp on March 14, 1953 in Meeker.

Leon proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

After leaving the Army he continued service to Meeker spending 20 years with the Meeker Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter and EMT, ultimately serving as fire chief.

Leon retired from Wolverine Tube in Shawnee.

He was a longtime member of the Meeker First Christian Church.

Leon was a jack of all trades, from wood working and arts and crafts to shade tree mechanic he could do it all and he kept the buses running working as a bus mechanic at Meeker schools.

His parents and wife preceded Leon in death.

Leon is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Robbie and Jerry Rice of Newalla; daughters and sons-in-law, Debbie Lou and Rex Haugh of Shawnee, Teresa and Jay Sigman of Shawnee and Tara and Jay Matthews of Henryetta; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patsy and Bob Hedge of Meeker; fourteen grandchildren; twenty two great grandchildren; one great great grandchild and many other family and friends.

The Rice family will receive friends on Monday, May 9, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Parks Brothers Funeral Home in Meeker.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 2:30 p.m., at the First Christian Church in Meeker with Jim Whorton officiating.

Interment will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Meeker.