Wilton – William Richard Rice Jr., passed away peacefully at his home February 8, 2025, A native of Maine, born in Portland on April 14, 1941, to William R. Rice Sr. and Frances (Peasley) Rice. William had a lengthy illness, being on dialysis for seven years when his health began to fail. William was proud to be a veteran, serving in the United States Air Force. His passion was photography, he was hired as a technical photographer by Aerojet in Folsom California. He was also a photographer for the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento California. William worked for a time as a retail business manager in a large liquor store in Sacramento. After returning to Maine in 2001, he worked at the Maine Department of Motor Vehicles and for the Town of Wilton. During most of his adult life, William gathered materials for a book on John F Kennedy Sr., after many years of research, a hard bound volume was published. William was predeceased by his father, William R. Rice Sr.; stepmother, Alameda (Mallott) Rice; his mother, Frances (Peasley) Rice Smith; stepfather, Donald Smith; son, William R. Mellis; and stepbrother, Michael Mallott. William is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Garrard) Rice. William, through various marriages, leaves behind five children: son, Matthew Rice; daughters, Diane Phinney, Karen Alley, Liberty Gawthorne, Frankie James; a dear stepsister, Kathleen Haas; he also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scott's Cremation and Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington Maine, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at dsfuneral.com