Obituary of Manford A. Rice

Manford A. Rice, 93, longtime resident of Iowa City died Saturday, June 22, 2013. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 28, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church) Burial with military honors will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm, Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be sent for Manford's family through the web at www.gayandciha.com. Manford Arthur Rice was born July 19, 1919, in Greenfield, Iowa, son of Rex and Gertrude Rice. He graduated from high school in Greenfield. On April 19, 1941, he married Leota Oesterreicher of Titonka, Iowa. He served four years in the U.S. Army during WWII. Two years were stateside, one year in England, and one year in France. Manford was employed by Rock Island Motor Transit as terminal manager in Atlantic, Iowa, from 1950-1955. He came to Iowa City as terminal manager in 1956 and held that position until 1967. When Rock Island Motor Transit closed their terminal in Iowa City, he was employed by Measurement Research Center, which was later purchased by Westinghouse Learning Corporation (now Pearson). He was facilities manager until his retirement in 1983. Manford and his wife, Leota, wintered in Mesa, AZ, for 20 years during retirement and traveled extensively at home and abroad. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Iowa City Noon Optimist Club, and Masonic Pymosa Lodge of Atlantic, Iowa Family survivors include his daughters, Donna James and her husband, Tony, of Altoona, IA, and Shirley Murphy and her husband, Steve, of Iowa City; grandchildren, Heather Zehnder of Lenexa, KS, and Tim Murphy of Portland, OR. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and a brother, Gaylord. Manford led a joyful life surrounded by family and friends. He loved to laugh and share his laughter with others. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. The family would like to thank Dr. Craig Champion for his kindness and care of Manford over the years, the Melrose Meadows community for their wonderful friendships, and the staff at Solon Care Center for their loving care over the last several months.