Velva Nea Rice

Velva Nea Rice, 89, Topeka, Kansas, died Friday, May 17, 2013, after a rich and beautiful life. She was born February 18, 1924, at Bruno, Arkansas, the daughter of Arthur and Neva (Pyle) Sasser.
Velva graduated from Bruno High School. She moved to Topeka in 1945 with the love of her life, Warren Rudolph Rice. They were married November 16, 1945, in Topeka. He preceded her in death on October 24, 2012. She did not want to be here without him.
She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, known to all who loved her as “Sook”. She was a member of Northland Christian Church.
Surviving are three children and their spouses: Howard “Randy” and Becky Rice of Burlingame, Jeanne and Ric Averill of Lawrence, and Pat and John Boyle of Chillicothe, Ohio; four siblings: Joe Sasser, Neva Lane Milligan, Mac Arthur Sasser, and Clarice McNair all of northwest Arkansas; ten grandchildren; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at Mount Hope Cemetery, 4700 SW 17th Street, Topeka. Velva will lie in state from 3:00 pm, Monday, to 12:00 noon, Tuesday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker- Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka.
Memorial contributions may be made to Northland Christian Church, 3102 NW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS 66617 or Topeka Rescue Mission, 600 North Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66608. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka. com.
Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.