Jesse L. Rice, 91, of Wilbraham died Tuesday, November 9, 2010 in Wilbraham. He was owner of the Rice Fruit Farm on Main Street. Born in Ludlow on August 11, 1919 son of the late Lee W. and Dora M. (Miller) Rice. Jesse was a lifelong resident and graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1938. Jesse was a lifelong member of Wilbraham United Church. He was a member of the Wilbraham Masonic Lodge AF&AM for 63 years and served on the Advisory Board of Faith Assembly No. 106. He was the former President of the Hampden County Farm Bureau, a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Hampden County Fruit Growers, and President and honorary life member of the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association. He was the last surviving founding contributor to the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Facilities Committee and was instrumental in procuring the U Mass Cold Springs Orchard (formerly the Horticultural Research Center) for the College of Natural Resources and Environment in Belchertown. He also was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Horticultural Research Center, and was President of the Western Massachusetts Farm Bureau Insurance Company for 19 years. He served 3 terms as an elected Wilbraham Selectman and 2 terms as Veterans' Agent. He also contributed to the Wilbraham Radio Advisory Committee and the Bicentennial Celebration Committee. He was a Cemetery Commissioner for the Town of Wilbraham for 15 years, Fence Viewer for 27 years, and Weigher of Grain for 53 years, and surveyor of lumber for 21 years. He served on the Wilbraham Board of Appeals, the Wilbraham Community Business Association, the Wilbraham Athenaeum Society, the Wilbraham United Church Finance and Building Committees, the Wilbraham Nature and Cultural Center, the Hampden Harvest Club and the Ludlow Lodge of Elks. He served on the Board of Trustees of both Ludlow Savings Bank and the former Ludlow Hospital. In recognition of his 90th year, the Wilbraham Board of Selectman proclaimed August 11, 2009 to be Jesse L. Rice Day in the Town of Wilbraham and the proclamation states "Jesse L. Rice has given generously of his time and resources to town endeavors, and has ever sought to remind us of our agricultural legacy, challenging Wilbraham citizens to recognize and value our agrarian past". Jesse was pre-deceased by his wife Winifred C. (Wallace) Rice and his son Wayne N. Rice. He is survived by his daughter, Lucille Gebeau of Crystal Lake, IL and her husband Theodore, daughter -in-law, Tracy Rice of Wilbraham, 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 11AM in Wilbraham United Church, 500 Main Street, Wilbraham. There are no visiting hours and burial is private for the family. In lieu of flowers donations in Jesse's memory may be sent to the Wilbraham Masonic Lodge, Woodland Dell Rd, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Sampson Family Chapels.

Published in The Republican from November 11 to November 12, 2010