William E. Rice Jr., 81, of Emmaus, died July 14, 2013, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. He was the husband of the late JoAnn (Beet) Rice who died in 2011. Born in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late William E. and Hermine (Hilleman) Rice Sr.

He was a construction manager at Air Products & Chemicals. Later he was vice-president at Lehigh Engineering. He then became the founder and president of William E. Rice, Inc., Custom Design/Build Firm.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean War. He obtained a B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University in Civil Engineering.

He was a Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of Emmaus Moravian Church,

He is survived by children, William E. III and his wife Carol, children Nancy and her husband James Solomito, James and his wife Anita, Cynthia and her husband Charles Gillette; sisters, Carolyn Kirkpatrick, Francis Rath; grandchildren, Kevin, Katie and Andrew, Jayden and Kelsey Gillette and William and Amy Solomito.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. August 3 in Emmaus Moravian Church, 146 Main St., Emmaus, 18049. Calling hours will be held 10 to 11 a.m. in the church. Arrangements were made by the Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Emmaus.