Mary Alice Rice
Mary Alice Rice, beloved wife of James W. Rice went peacefully to God’s kingdom on January 26, 2016 at her home surrounded by loving family.
Mary Alice was born in Sabetha KS on November 23, 1932 to Edward M. Boeding and Mary (Mohan) Boeding. She attended St. Peter and Paul grade and high school in Seneca KS and Benedictine College in Atchison KS.
She is survived by her husband James, six children Michael (Leslie), Catherine (Terry), Mark (Francesca), Patrick, Timothy (Dawn) and Eileen along with nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings Jim Boeding and wife Mary Jane, Paul Boeding and wife Marilyn, Kate Dowd and husband Walt, sister-n-law Lola Boeding and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is pre-deceased by her brother Alexis.
She worked for Braniff Airways in Kansas City where she met and married James W. Rice in 1956.
In 1967 she followed her husband to California and then to Houston to participate in the moon landing effort. In 1972 she and her husband Jim started Rice Aviation (later renamed Northrop Rice USA Inc) She has been the Chief Executive officer for 44 years.
Mary Alice was actively involved in many organizations including the Northrop Rice Foundation, Aviation Technician Education Council, Interfaith Caring Ministries, Association of Women in Aviation and Church Women United. Her philanthropic efforts have been with these and other organizations including Indian Educational centers and U.S. National Parks.
Services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1612 East Walker, League City, TX on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 10am.
In lieu of flowers, you may send memorials to a charity of your choice.
Condolences.
Dear Rice Family,
I have only met Alice a few times while being on the Northrop Rice Foundation with her. Alice was a very intelligent, caring, good natured woman. Alice was certainly a wonderful person to be around and with. I am fortunate enough to have known her and worked with her. She will be missed but never forgotten. God Bless!
Dear Rice Family,
We are so sorry to hear of the death of our sweet family friend Mrs. Rice- from a wonderful family we grew up with in Nassau Bay. The Rices are special because they had enough kids for my parents, my brother and myself to all make a buddy amongst them (John with Tim and me with Eileen-: awesome friends). But my parents really love yours- they had that first lunar landing connection and a lifetime frienship. We will do our best to be at her funeral. Prayers, sympathy and condolences from the Simon family and a TX- sized hug!
John, Marie, Bill and Elaine
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to meet Alice at the Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance Social held in Dallas, Tx last year. As treasurer of the organization I have had the pleasure of disbursing the Helping Hands Scholarship funds to deserving recipients. Alice’s benevolence has impacted so many lives, her kindness, gentle spirit and generosity will live on through those benefactors. We are blessed to have had in our lives.
Rice Family,
I didn’t get the chance to know Alice very well, but for the few times I did meet with her, she was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. I am sorry to hear of your loss and prayers to your family on losing such a wonderful woman.
We are so sorry for the loss of your wife and mother. Her goodness, kindness, loving and caring for others will be good memories to hold all your lives. Ones, such as she, leave a legacy for others to follow. At our Lockheed Martin Retirement Association, she will be missed. God Bless each of you and may she rest in peace.
So sorry to hear of Alice’s passing. I will pray for her.
We were so blessed to know Alice as a neighbor and friend for 19 years. They do not come any better. She will be missed.
Alice gave me my start in my first leadership role. She handed off some of her duties with Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM as we lovingly call it) as Exhibit Coordinator. Through the years with her guidance and love for all things AWAM to succeed, many of us have been given some great opportunities whether through challenges she has given us or the scholarships that she and the Northrop Rice Foundation have generously handed out. Alice will be dearly missed by all that knew her.
Such a great lady. May her family and friends find peace in the wonderful memories this amazing woman has left with each of us.
She gave me my first teaching job at the Rice Aviation Virginia campus. A wonderful lady who saw and revealed the good in her employees. Will miss her presence at all the aviation conferences. Will miss her greatly.
I have known Alice for many years and she was always a friend and supporter of my career in aviation education. She will be sorely missed. I want to extend my condolences to Jim and the family. She was a great lady and I will always remember her fondly. My heart is heavy with the lost of her kind spirit
Hello Rice Family,
I’m so sorry to read of Alice’s passing (a year later). The Rice family has always been in my thoughts since you moved from California. My dad John met Jim at Lockheed Aircraft Corp. and our familoes became good friends. I remember playing with Cathy and her brothers at their house on Jolly Street, carpooling to swim lessons, sharing July 4th dinner and attending the same church. Cathy and I attended kindergarten together. Alice was always so kind and sweet to me and my family. In later years I always looked forward to the Rice Family Christmas letter you sent to my parents that Alice wrote detailing the industrious family you became and the growth of Rice Aviation. If you mention the names of Jim and Alice to my siblings we instantly think of the Rices and what a wonderful family your are. Please accept my condolences and I will always keep your family and Alice in my thoughts and prayers. I would love to hear from you.
Jay Gregory
My email is gregoryfamily81394 at yahoo dot com
Jay Gregory