David Denton Baker Rice

David is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Nancy, and their children, Brooks (Jill) of Columbus, Ohio, Rob (Lailah) of Charleston, West Virginia, and Katy (David), of Kenai, Alaska.

He was a cherished grandfather to Triston, Carter, Owen, Evan, Caroline, Adam and Luke.

David also leaves behind his sisters, Marjorie (Ed) of Lost Creek, West Virginia, and Beverly (Brad) of Tooele, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Brooks and Nora; and his siblings, Richard, John, Joseph, William, Mary, Patricia “Patty-Sue” and Phillip.

He was born in Montrose, West Virginia, in 1935 as the youngest son of a farming family during the height of the Great Depression. Working on his family’s farm and running his aunt’s dairy farm instilled him with the values of self-determination, kindness and family. Listening to the radio and reading about World War II sparked a wonder in him about the bigger world and fostered a curiosity in him to know what was over the next hill no matter where he was.

A passion for sports, aviation, learning, and innovation were the cornerstones of his life. David graduated from Elkins High School, where he enjoyed playing sports and was captain of his high school football team. He attended and played football at West Virginia University while studying Aeronautical Engineering. He joined the United States Marine Core prior to graduation and during his enlistment played football for the Quantico Marines Devil Dogs in Quantico, Virginia. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, he continued his studies in Chemical Engineering at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. He loved aviation and earned licenses to fly multi-engine aircraft, helicopters, gliders and became a flight instructor.

David’s career was an engineer in the field of magnetic memory storage. He enjoyed spending two decades of his career traveling the world. He had a positive influence upon hundreds of young engineers and made many friends due to his positivity and encouragement.

In California, he met the love of his life, Nancy. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November of 2021. Although they lived around the country, his refuge and happy place was the family farm where he was born.

He was passionate about and served in the Marine Corps League Detachment 956 in Elkins, West Virginia.

He faced many health challenges with determination and grit. David will be remembered for his intelligence, positivity, smile, and ability to make friends wherever he went.

The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, from 11 a.m. to noon, the funeral hour.

Ed Rapking will officiate and full military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Marine Corps, the H.W. Daniel’s Post 29, American Legion and the Tygarts Valley Post 3647, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Interment will follow at the Israel Cemetery at Kerens, West Virginia.

The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is honored to be in charge of the arrangements for David Denton Baker Rice.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.