David was born May 13, 1936, in Forest, Virginia to Katherine Elliott Rice, one of the first eight women appointed to the United States Foreign Service. His father, Benjamin A. Rice, was a mountain country doctor who conducted house calls on horseback and later on a motorcycle. David was the youngest of 3 children. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School in Alexandria, Virginia, then the attended University of Virginia (UVA), graduating with the Class of 1958. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1960 and completed UVA’s Medical School in 1964, followed by four years of residency at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. David B. Rice joined the Pratt Medical Center, Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1968 where he specialized in internal medicine and gastroenterology until his retirement in 2005.

David was always looking to the future and learning from the past! He was known around town for his “Back to the Future” DeLorean. Whether introducing endoscopy to Mary Washington Hospital or serving the medical needs of patients in Moldova, he was always involved with learning. While offering his medical expertise in Brazil, he also assisted as a brick mason to rebuild a local church. His passion extended to researching indigenous Eskimos in Pt. Barrow, Alaska, excavating artifacts in Swaziland, Africa, and even taking Tango lessons in Argentina. He found pleasure in various outdoor activities such as tennis, skiing, canoeing, and camping. Moreover, he cherished traveling with his wife, Dotty, and their four children.

Dr. David B. Rice’s legacy lives on through his loving wife, Dorothy (Dotty) Rice, with whom he shared 65 years of marriage, their children Lynn E. Rice-Takahashi (married to Antony), David K. Rice (married to Ellen), Robert D. Rice, and Amy B. R. Cook (married to Bruce), along with his two grandsons Masahisa E. and Masashi R. Takahashi.