Lieutenant Franze Theodore Rice III age 62 of Dalton departed this life Tuesday June 18, 2019 at the Hamilton Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 21, 1956 in Tampa, Florida a son of the late Franze Theodore Rice II and Kathleen Carswell Rice. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. He retired from the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office after 33 years of faithful service.

He is survived by his wife, Kim Brown of the residence; sons and daughters-in-law, Jeremy Rice of Cocoa Beach, FL, Justin and Candace Brown of Tunnel Hill, GA, Joshua and Brittany Brown of Rocky Face, GA, Michael Rice; daughter, Shirley Rebecca Rice Watson of Palm Harbor, FL; Brother and sister-in-law, William and Ellen Rice of Bethlehem, GA; grandchildren, Layla Pettigrew, Sawyer Brown, Ashlyn Oliver, Jase Brown, Jessa Brown.

Service to celebrate the life of Lieutenant Franze Theodore Rice III will be held Friday June 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ponders Melrose Chapel with Wayne Saylors officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday.

Arrangements by locally owned and operated Ponders Melrose Chapel, Dalton, GA. (706)226-4002 "Funerals, Cremations, Cemeteries, Florists" YOUR SELECTED INDEPENDENT FUNERAL HOME"