Obituary for Dr. Lee Rice
East Liverpool, Ohio- Longtime area dentist, Dr. Earnest “Lee” Rice, 73, of Lori Lane passed away Friday, December 2nd, 2022 at the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio surrounded by his loving family.
Born November 5th, 1949 in New Martinsville, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Herman Ray and Bessie Ola Yoho Rice. He was raised in Newell, West Virginia and was a 1967 graduate of Oak Glen High School. Lee continued his education at West Virginia University, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the WVU School of Dentistry. Soon afterward, he opened his dental practice, which later became Glenmoor Dental, where he continuously cared for thousands of tri-state residents until his semi-retirement this past summer.
It could probably be said that there are few people that did not know Lee. Throughout his 45 year career, he took a genuine interest in each one of his patients (as well as his loyal staff). His kindness and compassion, mixed with his “gift of gab” and sense of humor left an indelible mark upon everyone he met. He was a gifted storyteller who could deliver a hilarious story with a straight face just as easily as he could conjure up a believable tale out of thin air. He very rarely (if ever) had a bad word to say about anyone or anything. That just wasn’t “Lee”. Quite simply, to know him was to love him.
A member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Lee also belonged to the St. Clair Township Travel & Tourism Bureau, the Corydon Palmer Dental Society, the Ohio Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He served many years on the Board of Directors at the East Liverpool City Hospital and helped with many charity events and community activities throughout the years.
On November 25th, 1989 he married Lucinda Kay “Cindy” Treleven, and together they found joy in becoming parents to daughter Abigayle Lee and son Andrew Tyler. As a family, they loved boating, skiing and spending time gathering with relatives and friends. Lee’s joy was compounded when he and Cindy became grandparents. Although he had achieved many personal successes and professional credentials, he was most proud of the titles “Dad” and “Pappap”.
Lee was preceded in death by his late wife, Brenda May Gillespie, who passed away on January 24th, 1987. Upon Brenda’s untimely death, Lee continued a close-knit and lasting relationship with the Gillespie family, whom he considered his own.
His wife, best friend and faithful sidekick, Cindy, survives at home. Lee also leaves behind daughter Abi Buchheit and her husband, Gregory of East Liverpool, along with son Andrew Rice and his companion, Sydney Tray, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two beloved grandchildren survive, Wyatt Gregory Buchheit and Evelyn Lee Buchheit.
Lee is also survived by father-in-law, Jim Gillespie; sisters-in-law, Bev Rice, Jackie Brunle, Susie Reed and her husband, Bill; and brothers-in-law, Jim Gillespie and his wife, Sharon, and Tim Gillespie and his wife, Joy; as well as cherished nieces and nephews, Tim, Lori, Kelly, Sean, BJ, Melissa, Brendan, Mikey, Jason, Shannon, Jessica, Michelle, Shannon, Cody, Joel, and Justin and their families.
In addition to his parents and his late wife, Lee was also preceded in death by his sister, Karen Rice, brother, Dwayne Rice, brothers-in-law, Jim Treleven and Dan Brunle, mother-in-law, Gayle Treleven, father-in-law, Raymond “Bud” Treleven, and mother-in-law, Mildred Gillespie.
Friends may visit the family at the Dawson Funeral Home in East Liverpool, Ohio, on Tuesday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pastor Margie Zellars of the church will officiate a funeral service at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Lee will be laid to rest in Shadow Lawn Memory Gardens in Newell, West Virginia.
The family requests memorial donations be made in Lee's name to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church at 767 Park Boulevard, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.
Born November 5th, 1949 in New Martinsville, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Herman Ray and Bessie Ola Yoho Rice. He was raised in Newell, West Virginia and was a 1967 graduate of Oak Glen High School. Lee continued his education at West Virginia University, where he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from the WVU School of Dentistry. Soon afterward, he opened his dental practice, which later became Glenmoor Dental, where he continuously cared for thousands of tri-state residents until his semi-retirement this past summer.
It could probably be said that there are few people that did not know Lee. Throughout his 45 year career, he took a genuine interest in each one of his patients (as well as his loyal staff). His kindness and compassion, mixed with his “gift of gab” and sense of humor left an indelible mark upon everyone he met. He was a gifted storyteller who could deliver a hilarious story with a straight face just as easily as he could conjure up a believable tale out of thin air. He very rarely (if ever) had a bad word to say about anyone or anything. That just wasn’t “Lee”. Quite simply, to know him was to love him.
A member of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Lee also belonged to the St. Clair Township Travel & Tourism Bureau, the Corydon Palmer Dental Society, the Ohio Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He served many years on the Board of Directors at the East Liverpool City Hospital and helped with many charity events and community activities throughout the years.
On November 25th, 1989 he married Lucinda Kay “Cindy” Treleven, and together they found joy in becoming parents to daughter Abigayle Lee and son Andrew Tyler. As a family, they loved boating, skiing and spending time gathering with relatives and friends. Lee’s joy was compounded when he and Cindy became grandparents. Although he had achieved many personal successes and professional credentials, he was most proud of the titles “Dad” and “Pappap”.
Lee was preceded in death by his late wife, Brenda May Gillespie, who passed away on January 24th, 1987. Upon Brenda’s untimely death, Lee continued a close-knit and lasting relationship with the Gillespie family, whom he considered his own.
His wife, best friend and faithful sidekick, Cindy, survives at home. Lee also leaves behind daughter Abi Buchheit and her husband, Gregory of East Liverpool, along with son Andrew Rice and his companion, Sydney Tray, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two beloved grandchildren survive, Wyatt Gregory Buchheit and Evelyn Lee Buchheit.
Lee is also survived by father-in-law, Jim Gillespie; sisters-in-law, Bev Rice, Jackie Brunle, Susie Reed and her husband, Bill; and brothers-in-law, Jim Gillespie and his wife, Sharon, and Tim Gillespie and his wife, Joy; as well as cherished nieces and nephews, Tim, Lori, Kelly, Sean, BJ, Melissa, Brendan, Mikey, Jason, Shannon, Jessica, Michelle, Shannon, Cody, Joel, and Justin and their families.
In addition to his parents and his late wife, Lee was also preceded in death by his sister, Karen Rice, brother, Dwayne Rice, brothers-in-law, Jim Treleven and Dan Brunle, mother-in-law, Gayle Treleven, father-in-law, Raymond “Bud” Treleven, and mother-in-law, Mildred Gillespie.
Friends may visit the family at the Dawson Funeral Home in East Liverpool, Ohio, on Tuesday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pastor Margie Zellars of the church will officiate a funeral service at the funeral home at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Lee will be laid to rest in Shadow Lawn Memory Gardens in Newell, West Virginia.
The family requests memorial donations be made in Lee's name to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church at 767 Park Boulevard, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.