"Mom and Dad, eternal companions together again forever" St. George, UT - Ralph Lenual Rice, 89, of St. George, Utah passed away September 8, 2009. He was born November 6, 1919 in Lakeview, Texas to Darius Lafayette Rice and Rosa Lenna (Wyatt) Rice. He married Pauline Katrina Niblett in Lamesa, Texas on December 24, 1940. Their marriage was solemnized in the St. George Temple on August 7, 1993. Soon after their marriage in Texas, Mom and Dad moved to California, where they raised their family in Salinas, CA for 48 years. Dad served in the Field Artillery with 1st Army in the European Theater during the last years of WWII (44-46), ending in the city of Erding on the German/Austrian border. He was a loyal Teamster member, driving for Carmel Builders for over 20 years, delivering wood from all over California and Oregon back to the Monterey Peninsula. Dad was also a member of the Richmond, CA Masonic Lodge and attended the Salinas, CA Masonic Lodge. Mom knew that her patience and faith would eventually be rewarded, and Dad was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 2, 1992. In the ensuing years while mom's health was failing, Dad had the opportunity to serve as an Ordinance Worker in the St. George Temple. One of his most memorable tasks was turning on the Christmas lights at the St. George Tabernacle. He was preceded in death by his eternal sweetheart Pauline, his parents, his older brother Gene, his older sister Moline and two grandchildren Shannon and Brandon A. Rice. Survivors: His sister Clembelle (Rice) Gage of Salinas CA, his children: Ralph (Diane) L. Rice Jr. of Provo UT, Billy Joe (Chinita) Rice of Salinas CA, D. Duane (Kimberly) Rice of Springville UT, Keith D. Rice of Cupertino, CA, and Anita (Gerald) Renee (Rice) Blackburn of Boise, ID. 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington LDS Stake Center, 200 W. Brigham Road, St. George, Utah. Visitation will be Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Stake Center, prior to services. Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery, St. George, Utah. Arrangements entrusted to Metcalf Mortuary, 435-673-4221.