Ruth Alice Rice

Ruth Alice Rice went home to be with her Lord Friday, September 16, 2011. She was born in Binghamton, New York on January 5, 1920 to Ida Tourjee and Arthur Franklin Newcomb. She had three brothers, Herbert, Wallace, and Bernard Newcomb and a sister, who, along with her parents, preceded her in death. She never had any children of her own. Ruthie (as many of her friends called her) was employed by The Singer Sewing Factory to sew coats for soldiers, and then went on to work as a machine operator at IBM for over 32 years. After her retirement, she moved to Lynchburg, hoping she might be able to help as a volunteer for Dr. Jerry Falwell\"™s ministry. Soon after moving here, she fell and broke her leg, and did not end up doing the volunteer work. She did enjoy visiting Thomas Road Baptist Church with some friends on occasion, and especially like being able to attend some of the special activities for senior\"™s ministries. She also enjoyed attending Oakdale Baptist Church with her good friend Irene Ellis. Later, Heritage Baptist became her main church home. She had many good friends there and always enjoyed being able to share one of the many inspiring poems she had memorized. As her health problems increased, she was especially grateful for the calls from pastors and friends, and the loving care provided by the Beaty family. She will be greatly missed here, but we know she will be enjoying every moment in heaven. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at Heritage Baptist Church.  A celebration of Ruth's life will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church with Dr. F. Gerald Kroll officiating.  Interment will follow in Virginia Memorial Park. Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com.