Dolores W. Rice

Dolores (Wendel) Rice 

Dolores Rice, 95, died of natural causes on March 9, at Gull Arbor Senior Foster Care in Richland, Mi., where she resided for the past 5 years. She was born on August 16, 1928, in Paris, Tenn, the daughter of James and Nellie Ford. The family moved to Michigan when Dolores was 13, settling in Comstock where she lived until marriage.  

Dolores graduated from Comstock High School, married William Wendel, where they had five children before divorcing in 1961. She then went to Nazareth School of Nursing to earn her LPN degree and license. She subsequently became a nurse at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo where she mostly worked in the radiation therapy department until her retirement in 1991. 

In the mid-sixties, she married Howard Rice eventually divorcing a few years later. 

Dolores lived most of her adult life on 40 acres in the Richland area where she enjoyed viewing the wildlife and feeding the birds. Though she sold her house in 2021, she still retained 17.1 acres of beautiful land which includes headwaters to Spring Brook. 

She loved to travel with family and friends as often as she could. Some of her favorite trips included a cruise to Alaska, and trips to Hawaii and Europe.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents and sister Evelyn Snow.

Surviving includes her children, LaVon Bauer, Coleen (David) Young, James (Karen) Wendel, Michael Wendel, and Thomas (Jean) Wendel, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. 

 A service of remembrance will be held at 2 pm Friday, March 15, at Gull Arbor Senior Foster Care, 7788 East DE Ave., Richland, Mi. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Dolores’ guestbook and/or share a memory with her family.

The Rice family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home and Cremation Society, 120 South Woodhams, Plainwell, MI 49080 (269) 685-5881.