"Wayne was always a jovial-type person," Carroll said. "This was his secured home. Last year, he spent around 1,000 hours here. The rescue squad was in his system. He enjoyed helping people."<br />
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On the return trip home from Lenoir, North Carolina, where Wayne and his close friend had taken a portion of the state EMT exam, the two were involved in an accident. Rice received massive head injuries and died the following morning, July 21, 1991. His friend worked laboriously trying to save Wayne using the life-saving techniques they had learned together.<br />
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"He was a hard worker, one who was willing to better himself that others might be helped," said Barron Lee, former teacher of Wayne. "Losing Rice and his dedication is a hard blow to the 68-member squad," a member said. "He'd worked with us about four years."<br />
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Mr. Rice was a member of the Dallas Rescue Squad, in Dallas, North Carolina. He was the owner of Darrell's Garage & Radiator Shop, and was born in Gastonia, North Carolina.<br />
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Wayne Dale Rice was survived by his parents, Darrell and Gilda Faulkner Rice, one sister, Tammy, paternal grandparents, Luther and Arnee Watts Rice, maternal grandfather, Jack Faulkner.<br />
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Honored 2000 |