Bill Rice

Wilburn L. "Bill" Rice, 84, of Bainbridge, formerly of Putnam County, GA, passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

The memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Johnny Moore officiating.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Wilburn Lane Rice was born April 15, 1940, in Hanceville, AL, the son of Grover & Jewell McClintock Rice.  Bill worked in residential and commercial construction and later helped run the café with Georgia Power at Plant Scherer until his retirement at age 78. After years in Putnam County, Bill and Linda decided to spend their golden years in Decatur County. Bill was a Christian by faith.

Mann, Wilburn, Bill, WL, William, Mr. Quick, Pawpaw…depends on how you knew Bill as to which nickname you used. (Bill would tell you not to tell everything you know.) Regardless of the nickname, there were unquestionable things about Bill everyone banked on: he loved his grandchildren; his granddaughters had him wrapped around their little fingers; he forgot more about cars than most people ever know; and mowing grass on a hot day always ended with a cold beer.

Hanging out in his "She Shed" listening to country music, Fats Domino or Sam Cooke was relaxing. Mowing grass was the opportunity to quiet the noise of the world and think about life, relive memories, and plan the next adventure. Many of Bill's fondest memories, outside of those with the grandchildren, included cars whether it was attending car shows, watching car auctions, reading about cars, talking about cars, or sharing everything he knew about cars and trucks.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Linda Bates Rice; his children, Pamela Rice, Allen Rice (Carla), Neal Rice (Cindy), Alisa Joiner (John), Cindy McMichael, E. Carter Mitchell (LeAnn), and Matthew Bates Mitchell (Darla); his grandchildren, Clint & Michael, Wil & Morgan, Hunter & Erin, Kelan, Molly, Madison & Sonny, Mason, Hailey & Nathaniel, Hudson & Kelley, and Kaci & Garrett; his great-grandchildren, Hutch, Waylon, Indy, Sam, and Zeke; and his dogs, Cooper & BB. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his siblings, Norma Jean Wise, Billy Wise, and Wayne Wise; and his best dog, JR.