John Winston Rice

John Winston Rice, of Rydal, Georgia, passed away peacefully in Cartersville, surrounded by his family, on Monday, September 14, 2026, at the age of 87. Winston was born on May 1, 1939, in Cartersville, Georgia, one of seven children.

As a teenager, Winston spent his summers learning to lay brick, which grew into a lifelong talent for building. In 1958 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a tanker. His service included time at Fort Knox and a deployment to Berlin, Germany.

Winston was a hard worker and as tough as nails. Over the years he owned and ran chicken houses and a couple of small businesses, but his main career was as a commercial general contractor, and he later retired from that work. In retirement he spent much of his time with his grandchildren, whom he adored. He also stayed busy trading livestock, selling produce and working on projects around his farm in Rydal. He loved being outdoors, working with his hands, and traveling both at home and abroad.

Winston will be remembered for his loving devotion to his family, his quick wit and great sense of humor, and the compassion and respect he showed everyone he met. Above all, he loved to laugh.

He was preceded in death by his mother, LaVetta Rice; his sister, Grace Striplin; and his brothers, Wayne Rice, Bill Rice, Fulton Rice and Grady Rice.

Winston is survived by his son, John (Holly) Rice; his daughter, LaDonna (Scott) Jordan; his grandchildren, Courtney (Kaztin) Maegar, Hannah McCrory and Jacob Jordan; his great-grandchildren, Walker and Winsleigh McCrory, and Beckett, Langston and Kayson Maegar; and his sister, Shelvy Murray.

A private service will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Etowah Foundation, P.O. Box 1239, Cartersville, GA 30120, or online at https://www.etowah.org/donate-505700.html