Pastor Don Rice

Pastor Don Rice, 69, passed away Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Celebration Family Church in Fritch.  Burial will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Minton Chatwell Funeral Directors of Fritch.   The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Monday, April 17, 2023, at the funeral home in Fritch.  In lieu of flowers his memory may be honored with a gift to Missions at Faith Baptist Church, PO Box 1051, Fritch, Texas, 79036.  Pastor Rice will lie in state beginning at 1 pm on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Brother Rice was born June 4, 1953, in Jay, Oklahoma to Earl Rice and Lois Maxwell Rice.  He married Sharon Brown on July 13, 1979, at Alpha Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado.

Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Fritch, Don Rice, graduated from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in 1977. Upon graduating with a degree in Theological Studies, he began pastoring the Fellowship Baptist Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming for one year. In the year 1981, he started pastoring at Bible Baptist Church in Waxahachie, Texas. After resigning in 1985, he moved to Fritch, Texas where he has pastored for the past 36 years.  He was commonly referred to as a friend to Pastors.

Brother Rice also earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary and a master’s degree from Calvary Baptist Bible Institute.

He enjoyed fishing, reading, and woodworking.  A true servant’s heart, he served as the voice of the Sanford-Fritch Eagles for several years.  He was very active in coaching youth sports, not only his own children but many children in the community.   Brother Rice was extremely musically gifted, he could play almost any instrument by ear, but it was his voice that could pierce straight to your soul.  When he sang it was powerful and heartfelt.  One of Brother Don’s greatest joys was his family, but nothing compared to being called Papaw.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Lois Rice; and two grandchildren known only to God and now their Papaw.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon of Fritch; sons, Jeremy Rice and wife Katherine of Fritch, Mark Rice and wife Linda of Fritch; daughters, Rachel Rice of Fritch, Crystal Marino and husband Chuck “Monroe” of Vista, California; grandchildren, Kam, Kade, Michael, Charlotte, Eden; brother, Rick Rice and wife Barb of Premont, Texas; sister, Mary Joan Baxer and husband Rey of Minco, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of extended family.