ROGERS — Dr. Jerry Lee Rice,

89, of Rogers, Ark., died July 29, 2020. He was born May 25, 1931, in Salem, Ohio, the son of Fred and Avon Rice.

He attended the thennamed College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark., where he met his first wife, the late Myra Woody Rice, of Greenwood, Ark.

After college Dr. Rice attended the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill., where he subsequently earned a master’s degree and a doctorate in divinity. He was a pastor at several Indiana churches before joining the U.S. Air Force as a chaplain in 1960.

He served as a Presbyterian chaplain at 11 locations including the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Wiesbaden, Germany, and Okinawa, Japan. He also served a remote tour in northern Alaska. He retired from the Air Force in 1984 having achieved the rank of colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit and several Meritorious Service Medals.

His first position after his military career was dean of the chapel at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville. He was later a pastor at churches in Colorado Springs, Colo.; Plano, Texas; Enid, Okla., and Rogers, Ark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Myra; twin older siblings, Donald Rice and Donna Ehrhart.

He is survived by his loving wife, Miriam, whom he met in Rogers in 2015; son Kevin Rice and wife Diana of Monte Vista, Colo.; daughter Kimberly Peel and husband David of Fort Collins, Colo.; son Kerry Rice and husband Jaap Dekker of Wiesbaden, Germany; daughter Karyl Sorge and husband Keith of Menomonie, Wis.; grandchildren Holly Rice, Kathryn Lawrence, Lauren Goedereis, Carter Peel, Ryan Sorge, Brett Sorge, Drew Sorge and Kari Sorge; 13 great-grandchildren; niece Stevie Jo Thomas; and nephew John Ehrhart, Jr.

Dr Rice was proud of his military service and was known throughout his military and civilian careers for his compassion, his sense of humor and his great preaching skills.

Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home of Bentonville. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com