HARTLAND, VT
Edna "Peggy" Downing Rice, 90, a lifetime resident of Hartland, passed away suddenly from heart complications Monday, August 17 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon.
Peggy was born December 20, 1924 in Hartland the daughter of Walter and Nellie (Fish) Lawton. She received her schooling in Hartland and attended Windsor High School. She married John Downing on February 7, 1941 and he passed away on September 16, 1981. She married Erroll "Inchy" Rice in Hartland on January 18, 1985. Peggy was employed at the former Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Windsor for many years until her formal retirement. She later worked at K-Mart in Lebanon for several years.
She was a member of the Windsor American Legion Post #25 Auxiliary and the Hartland Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club. Previously, she attended the First Congregational Church in Hartland.
She truly loved to take and share photographs with her loved ones. Her interests included sewing, NASCAR, Facebook and displaying family photographs. Peggy had an incredible knowledge of family history, always remembering everyone's Birthdays and Anniversaries with a card or note. As the matriarch of her family, she will be deeply missed.
She was predeceased by her parents, one son, David Downing, one stepson, Jon Rice, three brothers, Allan Lawton, Earl Lawton and Timothy Lawton, and by three daughter-in-laws, Beverly Downing, Lorraine Downing and Rose Rice.
Survivors include her husband Erroll "Inchy" Rice of Hartland, three sons, John Downing of Somersworth, NH, Mark Downing of Ponder, TX and Terry Downing of Pilot Point, TX, two stepsons, Ronnie Rice and his wife, Yvonne of Hartland and James Rice and his close friend, Patty of South Royalton, VT, one stepdaughter, Cathie Kivler and her husband, Harry of Dunnellon, FL, twelve grandchildren, David and his wife Beth, Rusty, Marley and her husband Jeff, Kevin, Derek, Nicole, Jason, Melissa, Justin and his fiancé Kate, Kimberley and her husband Andrew, Camila and Junior, ten great grandchildren, Brayden, Kiley, K.J., Riley, Allyson, Collin, Kason, MacKenzie, Nicholas and Autumn, several nieces and nephews.
At her request a graveside service will be held, Saturday, August 22 at 2:00 PM in the Hartland Village Cemetery. The Rev. Paul Sawyer, Pastor of the Hartland Four Corners Universalist Unitarian Church, will officiate. A reception for family and friends will follow at the First Congregational Church of Hartland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Affiliate at PO Box 1460, Williston, VT 05495 or the Hartland Hill Hoppers Snowmobile Club at PO Box 105, Hartland, VT 05048.
The Knight Funeral Home in Windsor is entrusted with the arrangements.