1940 – 2013

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Dr. John Giltner Rice, DMC, 73, died Monday, Nov. 4, of complications from Parkinson’s disease.

He was born July 25, 1940, to parents Dr. John Dexter Rice, M.D., and Nancy Giltner. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in 1962 and attended dental school at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1967 in Boston, Mass., in the four-year program and served internship for two years in Brockton, Mass., and the VA Hospital.

He married the former Sharon Ann Converse of Worcester, Mass., 44 years ago. The couple came to Winter Haven, Fla., in 2004, upon retirement. He was retired as a self-employed dentist. He was a member of the Cypress Ridge PCA Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven, Fla.

Dr. Rice was the dental director for the Maine State Dental Clinic for those with developmental disabilities from 1976-90 at the former Pineland Hospital and was a preceptor for Tufts University dental students. He traveled extensively throughout the state of Maine with his staff to care for this special population. He then went into private practice in Mechanic Falls from 1990-2004, when he retired.

He was a member of the American Dental Association and Maine Dental Association. He was an accomplished equestrian and loved his faithful horse, “Woody,” who took him cross-country jumping and stadium jumping as a New England amateur owner. He was an avid skier in Maine, thoroughly enjoyed his family and life on his farm in Otisfield, and sailing at Thompson Lake. He loved his new-found faith in Christ, his home in Winterset in Winter Haven, and playing golf with friends in the Winterset Golf League at Lake Bess Country Club. He deeply loved his end-of-life caregivers at Sterling House and Clare Bridge Cottage and, of course, his little Dachshund, “Ollie.”

Dr. Rice was the son-in-law of the late Dr. John Gerard Converse, M.D., Winter Haven, Fla., and his wife is the stepdaughter of Dr. Gwen Connor Converse, M.D. of Winter Haven, Fla.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Converse Rice, of Winter Haven, Fla., and West Poland; son, Noah Converse Rice, JD, of Somerville, Mass.; daughter, Dr. Sarah C. Rice, PhD, of Bryan, Texas; brother, Richard Rice of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters, Martha Weddell of Frankfort, Blaire Bennett of Santa Fe, N.M., and Dr. Carol Rice of Phoenix, Ariz.; and grandchild, Eleanor Lloyd Rice, of Somerville, Mass.

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