Jesse Thomas “J.T.” Rice, age 85, of the Highland Community in Lincoln County, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Danville Centre for Health & Rehab. 
Born Tuesday, July 14, 1931, in Lincoln County, Jesse was a son of the late Leonard and Maggie Carrier Rice. His loving wife, whom he married April 12, 1958, is Aleen Roberts Rice. J.T. was a US Army veteran, who served in the Korean Conflict. After his military service, he worked at Bluegrass Printing in Danville and Ceramichrome. In 1983, he began his own truck driving business. J.T. was a member of Calvary Hill Baptist Church, and loved pulling tractors in his spare time. He also enjoyed playing solitaire, loved sweets, loved to hear his brother Paul play Bluegrass music, enjoyed fishing and riding motorcycles. 
In addition to his wife, J.T. leaves behind three daughters, Janice Dawn Elliott of Warsaw, Indiana, Joyce Dale Pelkey of Danville, and Judy Delaine Boyd (Clifton R. Boyd) of Stanford; three sons, Jesse Dean Rice and Mark Dewayne Rice both of Berea, and Brian Thomas Rice of Indiana; 20 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lloyd Rice (Barbara Hale) and Paul Rice (Brenda Davidson) both of Waynesburg; and two sisters, Helena Elliott and Imogene Justice both of Warsaw. 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Debbie Wilbanks; one son, Leonard Rice; and one sister, Ruby Blanton. 
Funeral services were Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at Fox & Friend Funeral Home with Bro. Darrell Hahn officiating the service. Burial followed in Camp Nelson National Cemetery with full military honors performed by Caswell-Saufley Post #18 of the American Legion. 
Active pallbearers were Brandon Elliott, Jeremy Rice, Andrew Rice, Jesse Rice, John Boyd, Jacob Rice, and Matt Rice. Honorary pallbearers were Ashley Pelkey, Brittany Rice, Rachel Boyd, Emily Rice, Sarah Rice, and Tamala Wilbanks Norman. 
Memorial contributions suggested to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.