Ralph R. Rice

Left Formation May 1999

Ralph R. Rice was a gunner aboard a bomber in World War II and was a prisoner of war for more than a year after his plane was shot down while on a mission over Germany.

He died Thursday at home. He was 78.

Mr. Rice was born in East Cleveland and was an East High School graduate. During the 1930s, he delivered The Plain Dealer.

He was a ball-turret gunner who served as a staff sergeant with the 95th Bomb Group and the 334th Bomb Squardon during World War II. He was shot down over Germany on March 6, 1944, and captured. He was held as a prisoner until April 29, 1945.

He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Kane Ribbon.

He was an electronics technician at Western Electric Corp. for 44 years. He retired in 1980.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Georgianna; daughters, Barbara A. Korbas of Brooklyn and Donna L. Nanni of Broadview Heights; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters; and two brothers.

Services were Saturday.
Busch Family Chapel of Parma handled arrangements.

Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH) - Monday, May 24, 1999