Timothy Lynn Rice

Timothy Lynn Rice
September 12, 1948 - November 30, 2022

Tim Rice died unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 at his home in Albuquerque, NM. He was born September 12th, 1948 in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, the second of three children of Winston P. Rice and Billie Jean (Robinson) Rice.

Tim graduated Olney High School, class of 1966 where he was salutatorian and an exemplary baseball player. He attended East Central State College/University where he played for their baseball team, majored in history, minored in physical education, and eventually received his Masters Degree in Education (1979). After his college graduation (1970) he accepted a teaching position, sight unseen, in Crownpoint, NM. This is where he met and married the love of his life Alice "Ann" Martinez and raised their two daughters. He spent the next 37 years as a pillar of the Crownpoint community where he taught history and coached multiple sports. He was a prolific Cross-Country coach who led 3 teams to State Championship titles with numerous 2nd and 3rd place finishes. Tim was a long-time member of the New Mexico High School Coaches Association (NMHSCA) and served as State Track & Field official for over 45 years. In 2015, he had the honor of being inducted into the New Mexico Athletic Association (NMAA) Hall of Fame.

He was predeceased in death by his parents, Winston and Billie Jean Rice. Surviving in addition to his wife of 51 years, Ann (Martinez) Rice, are his daughters, Katy Rice of Dallas, TX and Lisa (Rice) Witt and her husband, Zachery Witt of Wylie, TX; five grandchildren, Timothy "Parker" Witt (3), Lucas Witt (1), Sheldon Witt (26), Keaton Witt (20) and Calla Burkhart (6); one brother, Win Rice and his wife, Linda of Clarita, OK; one sister, Gwen (Rice) Gjovig and her husband, Russell of Ada, OK; brother-in-law, Chris Martinez and his wife, Karen of Albuquerque, NM; sister in-law, Jean (Martinez) Duck and her husband, Mike of Prosper, TX; many nieces and nephews including great-nieces and nephews; and thousands of students and athletes from Crownpoint, NM.

A service of remembrance will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2022, 2:00 p.m., at FRENCH - Westside. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able instead make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

For those family and friends who cannot make the trip we will be holding a memorial service in Oklahoma after the holidays. We will keep you informed of those details.