Chester Henry Bice, 90, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his daughters. He was predeceased by his beautiful wife, wonderful mother, and friend Margaret Bice. They were married on January 27, 1969.
We celebrate an adventurous life that began when he was born on August 30, 1934, in the Haw Thicket Community of Grubbs, the son of Buddy and Cellie Willbanks Bice. He was a born-again Christian and he always shared with his children that God was with him every step he made in his life.
Mr. Chester, as he was fondly known, was a Master Mason. He worked in Bice Landscaping before spending ten years working at Harding University. After that, he was self-employed doing the things he loved. He designed and built his family home which is still loved and enjoyed to this day. The humble home says a lot about the man who built it.
Chester loved gardening, hunting, and fishing. He enjoyed playing his guitar and singing to his family. He made lifelong friends in the dancing community where they would travel every Friday night to a new location.
As he grew older, he started to travel across the United States visiting his children and grandchildren. He visited almost every state. The last seven years he spent his winters in Hawaii and enjoyed Alaska in August. He loved reading books about all animals. He was always watching National Geographic and Planet Earth. He enjoyed learning about the history of the United States. He visited Washington D.C., Virginia, Boston, Rhode Island, Colorado, California and his favorite Geronimo historical site. He always stressed the importance of education to his family. He loved learning new things.
Chester is survived by his sons, daughters, and grandchildren who live all over the United States. He was proud of them all. He lived, he loved, and he was loved. He will be missed greatly by his surviving friends. He will be forever in our hearts and in our heads, our memories will provide us lifelong lessons. He was the longest-living Bice or Willbanks who lived to be 90 years old. He was proud to reach that goal.
The Bice family extends its sincere and heartfelt gratitude to Norman & Baker Pharmacy staff, Glen Curtis, Dr. Evans and staff, and Elite Hospice staff. Each provided Chester with quality care and kindness.
Service will be at 2:00 on Monday, September 23, 2024, at Dillinger Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 until service time. The interment will be at Walnut Grove cemetery.
