Charles Edgar Rice born November 22, 1930 in Zanesville, OH. Died December 27, 2023, Mount Vernon, OH. “Chuck” attended Denison University where he met the love of his life, Jo Lea Bennett.

He was raised in Zanesville, OH where he attended Theodore Roosevelt Junior High- who’s fight song he often sang with little encouragement. He loved playing baseball, and to the end of his life asserted that, had his family not moved to Pennsylvania while in high school, he would have been a top prospect for the Cincinnati Reds.

Chuck and Jo married in 1952 and in less than a year, but more than nine months, welcomed Ted to their family. Two years later came daughter Karen, two years after that son Charlles II arrived and then four years later, (surprise!) Elizabeth rounded out the clan.

Chuck’s first career was in sales- where he soon learned he had little aptitude. He transitioned to the admissions office of Kenyon College in Gambier, OH.

In Gambier, Chuck and Jo also made fast friends with Don and Marion Bateman and Bruce and Gretchen Haywood. The bonds formed then lasted decades. Chuck and Don had a shared passion for OSU football and regularly attended games together. Bruce, then a German professor, went on to be Provost of Kenyon and later, President of Monmouth College. Chuck and Bruce corresponded regularly throughout their lives until Bruce’s death at 94.

At Kenyon, Chuck developed a multivariate formula to predict academic success of college applicants, impressing his superiors, one of whom advised: “You need to go to graduate school” When Chuck asked, “What should I study?” his boss said, “Anything!”

Chuck’s brother Hal was studying at Florida State University and paved the way for admission to study psychology with renowned comparative psychologist Winthrop Kellogg. At Florida State, Chuck’s research had to do with the visual perception of animals, specifically chickens. As the lab had a lot of chickens and in crowded quarters, the chickens would at times peck each other to death, the growing family frequently had chicken on the dinner table. Very frequently. A lot of chicken. After graduate school, chicken did not return to the family menu for at least ten years.

After graduation, Chuck was employed by a corporate psychology firm in Atlanta, Georgia, where he traveled four days a week to meet with clients. Desiring to be in a career with less travel. Chuck accepted an offer to continue research work with Winthrop Kellogg, working at Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) in California.

The family resided in Palo Alto, California for six years, back when non-decamillionaires could afford to live there. In Palo Alto, Chuck developed an interest in gardening -a passion that lasted the rest of his life. As the 1960’s progressed, he and Jo perceived that the grant money that had supported the family for six years was unlikely to continue and that life in the increasingly turbulent Bay Area was not conducive to raising healthy children. In 1969, the couple chose to move back to Gambier, Ohio, where Chuck became a Professor of Psychology at Kenyon College, where he was employed until his retirement in 1994.

He was active in the life of the Kenyon community, socially, academically and in service.

Professor Rice was beloved by students and colleagues. One fellow professor remembers him, saying “He was a lion, a man of great courage and decency.“ Another has said, “He was such a twinkle-in-the-eye spirit with a generous memory to boot. His presence in Gambier and at Kenyon marked his distinctive contribution over 50 years of our acquaintance.” He regularly received letters of appreciation and thanks from students throughout his tenure at the college -and after.

Chuck served the college in many capacities such as Department Chair, Chair of the Faculty, Chair of the Science Division, Executive Director of the Carolina-Ohio Education Network (COSEN); was a co-founder of Kenyon’s Summer Science (now Summer Scholars) program. He edited The Psychological Record for 30 years and his research was extensively published including in the journal, Science.

Chuck continued gardening in these years, but also began working with the Gambier community when he joined the College Township Fire Department, which served the Village of Gambier and Kenyon College. Almost immediately, he was appointed assistant Chief for Emergency Services. Over the following two decades, Chuck oversaw the development of countless student and village volunteers into competent Emergency Medical Technicians and later, in response to state requirements, Paramedics. Many of the student volunteers from Kenyon went on to careers in medicine. After retiring from the department in the 1990’s Chuck wrote “Last Call” a book that is at once, a history of volunteer fire department service in Gambier, a memoir of his own experiences and a documentation of the increasing demands and skills required to serve – and is thus a history of volunteer fire and EMT service across America. The book is available on amazon and at the Kenyon College bookstore.

In addition, Chuck served on the Knox Community Hospital Board during the controversial decision to consolidate Mercy and Martin Memorial Hospitals and was involved in site selection for the current Knox Community Hospital, which has dramatically expanded the quality and range of medical services to Knox County.

After retirement, Chuck and Jo were co-founders of the After Kenyon Society, which met regularly for many years. Membership was limited to those no longer working at Kenyon and continued the rich social connection between professors and staff after retirement.

Chuck developed another, more intermittent enthusiasm as well: over the course of 50 years, he and Jo lived in 8 different houses in and around Gambier! Each had specific charms that spoke to them, however each was selected or modified to entice children and grandchildren to visit. Their plan was successful and the family has gathered regularly in all their wonderful houses and have many fond memories of the times spent in them.

Chuck was extremely proud of all four of his children and loved spending time with them and his grandchildren. Chuck is survived by Jo Rice, his wife of 71 years, his children and their spouses, Ted Rice (Siobhan Fennessy), Karen (Pete) Pavlik, Charles E. (Mary) Rice II , and Elizabeth (Glenn) Forthofer.

Grandchildren include Nora Rice, Thomas Rice; Alex Pavlik (Ryan Maisenbacher), Kaitlin (Zack) Garrow; Charles Rice III (Renee), Catherine Rice, Alexa Rice, Daniel (Emily) Forthofer, Heidi Forthofer, and Kara Ernsberger.

Great grandchildren include: Eliza Maisenbacher; Charles Rice IV; Brieann Fox, and another on the way.

Preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Eugene Rice and Helen Hanks Rice; brothers Robert Eugene Rice and Harold Kay Rice; and a grandchild, Brian Forthofer.

Finally, Chuck invested energy into care for the cemetery behind Rosse Hall at Kenyon, where many of his good friends are buried. In his last years, he enjoyed walking through the grounds and “holding conversations” with them. He will be interred among them in a family ceremony on January 23.

Burial will be a private ceremony January 23, with an open reception to follow at 11:30 at The Kenyon Inn.

The Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.

To express a condolence, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com

Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel

Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com