Rice E. Walton

Rice E. Walton, 85, of Liberty died Friday, June 14, 2013, at Reid Hospital, Richmond. Rice was born in Estelle County, Kentucky on October 18, 1927, to Luther B. and Flossie Warford Walton. He came here from Kentucky when he was 18. On September 26, 1950, Rice joined the U.S. Army and served in the 516th Signal Company being discharged on November 28, 1956. He was employed at Ford Plant in Connersville retiring in 1993 with 28 years of service. He married Virginia on December 29, 1989 at the Liberty Church of Christ. He was a member of the Crooked Creek Christian Church in Kentucky. Rice enjoyed hunting, gardening, keeping a perfect yard, but his greatest love was sports of all types. He proved that by supporting the Union County Patriots by attending all the local games here in town. Rice is survived by his wife Virginia, three daughters: Brenda Joyce Healy and Edward; Patricia Ann Beckett; and Karen Sue Leonard and Kirby all of Liberty; a brother: Nelson Walton of Louisville, Kentucky; a sister: Lillie Mae McCarty of Coca, Florida; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Rice was preceded in death by four brothers: JB, Ottis, Glen, and Dewey; and three sisters: Stella, Evie, and Emma. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 16, at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Fosdick Chapel, Liberty, with Ned Noble officiating. Burial will follow in West Point Cemetery with Military Graveside Services by American Legion Post # 122 and VFW Post # 1472. Friends may visit at the Funeral Home 12:00 noon Sunday until time of the service where memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.