Harwin W. Rice Obituary (1937 - 2024)

Harwin Winchester Rice, 86, of Mission, Texas, was born to eternal life on Friday, February 2, 2024. He answered the call of the Lord to accompany Him to Heaven on the morning of the Presentation of our Lord. Harwin was the most genuine person I've known. He was loving, kind, generous, and always willing to help others. He loved to serve his neighbors and friends without recognition. Harwin was born on March 23, 1937 in Detroit, MI to Harold J. Rice and Winifred Winchester Rice. Harwin grew up in Detroit and graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1954. He then went on to study engineering at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI where he was also part of the US Army ROTC. After graduating with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, he served as an officer in the US Army both at home and abroad. After returning to civilian life, he then worked as an engineer, eventually ending up at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) in Niskayuna, NY for twenty-five years. While finishing up at Michigan State, he met and eventually married his first wife, Maralee Walker, with whom he had two children, Robert and Katherine. In the year 1979, Harwin met Debra Carrigan. They were married on October 27, 1985, and eventually celebrated a sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church on July 16, 2014. After retiring, Harwin and Debra spent their time square dancing, camping, and, for a number of years, traveling all over the country in their RV visiting friends and family, eventually settling in Mission, TX. Harwin was predeceased by his parents, Harold J. Rice and Winifred Winchester Rice. He was survived by his wife, Debra Rice of Mission, TX, his son Robert A. Rice and his wife Mary Elizabeth of Thornton, CO, his daughter, Katherine J. Rice and her husband Paul Maxwell of Mission, TX, and his son, Thomas E. Williams and his wife Rachel of Clifton Park, NY. Harwin has ten grandchildren, Teresa, Anthony, Christina, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Jesse, Stephen, James, Angela, and Joseph, and four great-grandchildren, Antonio, John Paul, Carmen, and Massiel. We would like to thank the staff of the Alfredo Gonzalez Texas State Veterans Home of McAllen, TX for their tremendous care and concern of Harwin during the last few months of his life. The dignity and love that they showed for Harwin both as a person and as a veteran will not soon be forgotten. Thank you.