David Charles "Rusty" Rice

David Charles ''Rusty'' Rice was born in Brazoria County, Texas on October 30, 1939 to James A. ''Red'' Rice and Annie Zaskoda and died peacefully in his sleep at his Danbury home on April 20, 2026.

When Rusty was only two months old, his father tragically died. Rusty and his mother continued living in Brazoria County with grandmother Rebecca Rice and his father's younger siblings until a move to Sealy, Texas to care for his maternal grandmother. After Mrs. Zaskoda's death in 1941, Annie assumed custody of 6 of her youngest siblings, ages 3 to 12, giving Rusty immediate playmates. Then in 1945 Annie remarried, the aunts and uncles moved to Fort Worth to live with their older siblings, and in the following years 5 more children were born.

Rusty struck out on his own at age 15 - moving in with two school friends, attending high school on his own, and working at a local truck stop. During the late 1950s and early 1960s he also drove trucks cross country and worked at truck stops stretched from Texas to California, before returning to Sealy for a few years, and finally settling for good in Brazoria County near his paternal Rice relatives.

After working in the trucking industry, Rusty· began a long career as a heavy equipment operator for Brazoria County. He was proud of the fact he could operate any and every piece of machinery for the county to set up roads, repair bridges, clear land, and grade the sands of Surfside Beach for many years. During his ''off'' time, he cleared land, set up roads in new housing developments, and dug lakes and ponds in housing development entrances and on personal lands. A drive with Rusty in Brazoria County would have him pointing out all the projects he helped develop. In the 1980s Rusty began a new career as an oil company dispatcher off the Gulf Coast. He loved his work, being responsible for shuttling crews, helicopters, work boats, chemicals, equipment, and food back and forth to offshore oil rigs, as well as management and equipment maintenance in the land office.

In Rusty's retirement, he maintained a huge garden until just a few years ago when back problems forced him to stop. He tinkered in his workshop, often fixing the neighbor children's bicycles or toys. He fished - a lot. He enjoyed taking daily drives around Brazoria County dropping off cookies or hamburgers to staffs at the feed store, or his doctor's office, or his bank; or just saying hello to neighbors at the local post office or Dollar General. Rusty also picked up food at a local food pantry, took it home and cooked meals to deliver to his elderly friends.

Rusty had the biggest heart when it came to making someone's day a little brighter with just a smile or a laugh. Even when life dealt him setbacks, it never changed how kindly he treated everyone around him - friends and strangers alike.

Rusty is predeceased by his parents James A. Rice and Annie Zaskoda Rice Marusik; wife Dee Rice, who he married in 1977; adopted daughter Melodie Rice Slocum; and brother Louis Marusik.

He is survived by Rose (Harold) Peikert of El Campo; Mary Marusik of Houston; Elizabeth (John Jr.) Ray of Houston; Joe (Betty) Marusik of Sealy; Nancy Peikert of El Campo; Kristin (Christopher) Peikert Frediani of Round Rock; Jennifer Marusik; Lucille Quinones of Pantego; and numerous Rice, Zaskoda and Marusik cousins. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to “Rusty’s Army”, Angels Care Hospice, and to his caregivers – Crystal, Dee, Emily and Krissey – for their faithful and loving care of Rusty in his last year at home.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026 at Palms Funeral Home from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Danbury beginning at 10:00 am. Burial to follow at Angleton Cemetery. Pallbearer’s will be Kenny Chaney, Christopher Frediani, Seth Rice, Scott Perry, Todd Ernst, and Chuck Best.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Danbury Texas Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of your choice.