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Melda Isobel Adams Rice, age 104, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, died January 5, 2022 at Stone Bridge Senior Living in Cabot, Arkansas. She was born to Carl and Imo Adams in Houston, Arkansas on June 28, 1917. She grew up in Perryville, Arkansas, graduating from Perryville High School and attended Arkansas State Teachers College Business School.

Melda met and married her husband, Ben Eugene Rice, in 1935 when he went to Perryville as a county extension agent. They were later transferred to Lewisville, Arkansas and their son, Bennie, was born there. They moved to Furlough, Arkansas in 1942 where Ben operated the family farm and Melda worked at the Arkansas Ordnance Plant. When the farm was sold in 1945, Melda's family moved to Jacksonville, Arkansas. The war had ended and the Arkansas Ordnance Plant closed. Her final job at the plant was to type and attach seals to the box cars moving out the machinery and equipment used during the war.

When the Jacksonville State Bank, now First Arkansas Bank and Trust, opened for business in 1949, Melda was one of its three employees. She retired from there as Senior Vice President at the end of 1984, remaining on its board of directors until 1998. During early banking years, Melda was active in the National Association of Bank Women, an organization promoting women in banking. She served as Regional Vice President for Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, making official visits to many cities in these states.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville since 1947. During that time she served as church organist and pianist for 34 years. She was past chairman of the Administrative Board, Pastor/Parish Relations chairman, and helped regroup and chaired the Wesleyan Circle of United Methodist Women. In 1972, the church honored her by celebrating a "Melda Rice Day".

Melda was a 70 year member of the Order of Eastern Star and was past Worthy Matron of the Jacksonville chapter. During her membership, Melda served as the organist and Grand Representative to New Jersey and was the first mother advisor of the Jacksonville Rainbow Girls Association.

Melda was a lifetime member of the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council and served as treasurer. She was a recipient of the Military Airlift Command Distinguished Citizen Award in 1974 and was an honorary member of the LRAFB Officers' Wives Club.

Melda was a life member of the Rebsamen (North Metro) Hospital Auxiliary, past president of the Jacksonville B&PW Club and a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. She was named Jacksonville's Woman of the Year in 1962.

Melda also like to travel. She and her husband, along with a favorite couple, visited a great many points of interest in the US. After retirement, Melda, her sister, and a best friend visited a number of countries.

She was an avid bridge player and enjoyed her bridge clubs and many good friends there. Another favorite past time that she enjoyed was working the crossword puzzles in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

In addition to her parents, Melda was preceded in death by her son Ben Elbert Rice in 2013; her husband Ben Eugene Rice in 1981; her sister Farrell Henry of Little Rock, and her brother Carl Adams of Hot Springs Village.

Survivors include daughter-in-law Susan Rice Mclnerney of Russellville, Arkansas; grandchildren, Patricia Rice of Jacksonville, Carl (Dawn) Rice of Jacksonville, and Holly Rice of Dallas, Texas. She also leaves behind her great-grandsons, Augustus Ben Kye, and Jeremy and Brock Parrish; as well as a number of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, Concord Cemetery in Lonoke, or Jacksonville Museum of Military History.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at First United Methodist Church. Melda will be laid to rest following the service at Concord Cemetery. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home, (501) 982-2136.

DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ATTENDANCE