Dr. Marilyn Anne Rice's Obituary
Marilyn Anne Rice was born in Dallas, Texas June 27, 1939. A history of high regard for education was embedded in Marilyn’s family. Grandfather, Dr. John Andrew Rice, was one of the founders of Southern Methodist University. Her grandmother, Launa Darnell Rice, graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Chicago in 1904. She started a Montessori school the first year it was established in the US and taught parenting classes in the Tulsa schools. Her grandparents and parents established in Marilyn a love of learning and firm importance of education.
After attending North Texas State University (currently University of North Texas) for 2 years, she attained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin. After a summer’s graduate work at Columbia University, Teacher’s College in New York, she took a year from teaching to study with Dr. Clyde Inez Martin reinforcing foundational principles that would undergird her philosophy throughout her career. She completed her Master of Science in Elementary Education at the University of Texas in 1966. Marilyn earned her PhD in Education from Texas Woman’s University in 1984.
Marilyn’s passion was her belief that, given appropriate experiences, children are highly motivated and capable of attaining the understanding, intellectual skills and moral courage needed to live gratifying lives and resolve the complicated problems facing them in today’s world. Marilyn taught 46 years in Texas public schools, 43 of which were in Richardson Independent School District. She was selected to be one of the members of the faculty at the new magnet school, Hamilton Park Elementary. Teaching 3rd graders, she noticed that there was a large gap in her class between students who were very high achievers performing at the high school level and those who read quite poorly - one who didn’t even know the letters of the alphabet. The school had programs for the underachievers, but no programs for the bright students who were performing above their grade level. After reading the new materials loaned to her from Region X Education Service Center which were being published about the education of gifted and talented children, she interacted with the very same authors at a gifted and talented conference at Columbia University. Her efforts led to the establishment of the REACH Gifted Education Program in Richardson ISD with the goal of helping parents and teachers understand the principles of gifted education so that children can thrive and receive full benefit from their education. As a teacher in the REACH program, Marilyn developed curriculum which became part of the core of the REACH program. After retiring from RISD, Marilyn taught some of these important principles to future teachers for 9.5 years in the undergraduate program at the University of North Texas thus completing her formal career as an educator. Marilyn would count her accomplishments with her students as some of her highest achievements. She was an exceptional teacher and truly connected with her students. Richardson annually holds an Awards dinner for the top 10 students in each of the high schools. Students selected to participate could invite one teacher. Twice students chose Marilyn who had taught them in their third grade!
Marilyn served as the first woman on the Zoning Board of Adjustment for the city of Richardson, Texas for twelve years. The last 2 of them she was appointed chairman. She was the co-founder and member of the first crime watch patrol in Richardson. Under Marilyn’s guidance as the president of the newly formed Home Owner’s Association, lawyer Lewis Nicholas with input from the neighborhood, set up a legal covenant to protect the neighborhood’s integrity to be exclusively for single family residents – unique at that time. The neighborhood was besieged from a nearby business which was purchasing homes in her neighborhood to create parking spaces for their establishment. Based on the neighborhood covenant a lawsuit was filed. The resulting settlement required the business to re-sell the homes to people who wanted to live in them and was prevented from purchasing more homes – thus keeping the neighborhood intact.
Marilyn was gifted in many areas and enjoyed an active social life. She had a ready smile, infectious laugh and never met a stranger. At university she was president of her sorority. She enjoyed the many activities of the Richardson Woman’s Club and the Richardson Retired School Personnel. She attended monthly lunches with both the Sunset and Hillcrest high school groups having attended both high schools and was in a women’s group of friends for 35 years who dined and traveled regularly. Her women’s investment club periodically took their profits to travel the world. And, of course, she traveled with her beloved Joe who was in himself an extraordinary world traveler. Marilyn was a consistent supporter of the Arts. She, herself, was a very talented watercolor artist and pianist. She was a consistent attendee at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Dallas Opera with Joe. A master calligrapher, she taught her students calligraphy as a special interest. Marilyn loved people, connected with everyone, and was extremely kind, giving and generous. She dearly loved her nephews and her extended family. Planning and hosting many Rice and Allen family reunions was a labor of love, and she was a dedicated family archivist. A lifelong learner, Marilyn was constantly reading to expand her mind & stay abreast of the important events in our world.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruth Rice, her brother William A Rice and her beloved Joe Tinnin. She is survived by four nephews, Billy, Derrick, David, his wife Cherish and baby Naomi, and Chris Rice; numerous cousins; and countless friends. Our deepest gratitude to Rosemary Njoroge, her tireless caregiver who kept her interested, safe, cared-for and loved.
Memorial Services will be held at Lover’s Lane Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75220 in the Shipp Chapel on Friday, May 24th 11:00. A private family inurnment service will be held at the Restland Garden of Faith that morning. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Dr. Marilyn Rice Endowed Scholarship in Social Studies Education or The Dr. Marilyn Rice Faculty Research Excellence Endowment in Social Studies Education University of North Texas, Division of University Advancement, 155 Union Circle #311250, Denton, TX 76203-5017. On-line gifts can be made at https://one.unt.edu/giving Please select “Other, Please Specify in Comments” at the top of the drop-down list and include the name of the fund you choose to support.
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