Thelma Virginia Rice

Thelma V. Rice, 93, a resident of the Hillsboro community passed away on October 23, 2014 at the Empress Adult Care in Hillsboro.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2014 at Gales Creek Cemetery in Gales Creek, OR.

Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church (Old Scotch Church); 30685 NW Old Scotch Church Rd in Hillsboro.

Family and friends are invited to attend a reception following the services held in the fellowship room.

Thelma Virginia was born to Howard and Maggie Lilly at their rural home in Gales Creek on 12 Feb 1921. This rural influence was apparent throughout her life by her hard work ethic. She was joined by 6 siblings. Economic circumstances forced the family to move from the Gales Creek into the Tillamook area. When the economic conditions improved the family was able to move back to Washington County, Oregon. Within 3 months of graduating from Hillsboro High School in 1942 she was riding the company bus to the Oregon Shipyards to work as a "Burner" in building the ships that won World War 2. Thelma was able to join the workforce at Tektronics in Beaverton, Oregon for 20 years, then went to GAF in Progress, Oregon until retirement.

Thelma married Thomas G. Pritchard on July 18, 1942 in Vancouver, Washington; made their home in the Sherwood area then moved to Cornelius, Oregon and gave birth to a daughter, Sharon Ann in 1945. Thelma and Tom worked long hours to make their home a showplace of shrubs and flowers.

Thelma cared for Tom as his health declined due to cancer. She then married an old High School acquaintance, Clarence G Rice on February 23, 1985 at the Gales Creek Church. They remained married for 29 years until his recent demise. Their home on SW Eggers Road was again a show place of flowers, shrubs, trees and lawn as they both would work long hours keeping it up. They traveled on many RV trips to S. California, Wyoming, North British Columbia and even made the Panama Canal Cruise.

Thelma was a large part of the Greatest Generation, demonstrating a hard work ethic all her life not only to benefit herself and her family, but, to help build our homeland into the greatest country in the world.

Thelma has 3 sisters, Elizabeth Graham of Portland, Beverly Barnett of Cornelius, and Alta Long of Aloha. She has been preceded in death by 3 brothers: Wayne who joined the US Army and was detailed to guard German POW's here in the states, Bill who joined the US Army was detailed to the Rangers and served in the Pacific theater, and Donald who joined the US Merchant Maine and saw service in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

Thelma is survived by a daughter, Sharon A. Wise, 2 grandsons (Peter & Jon), 2 great granddaughters (Amber & Kassandra) and 1 great grandson (W. Blake)

The family suggest donations be placed in Thelma's name to the Land Acquisition Fund for Old Scotch Church.