W. Scott Rice, 48, an electrical engineer, died Sunday, Jan. 28, in his Palatine home after a three-year battle with colon cancer. Mr. Rice was raised in Union City, Ind., where he graduated as class valedictorian at Union City High School in 1970. He obtained a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., in 1974 and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University in New York in 1977. Mr. Rice worked as a researcher for General Electric in Syracuse until he moved to Palatine in 1986. Mr. Rice served as a research and development manager at Northrop Grumman Corp. in Rolling Meadows. He worked on the company’s defense system design. “He had an incredible interest in trying new things,” said his sister, Lisa Rice Wheeler, who added that her brother had tried ice diving and parasailing. Other survivors include his wife of 27 years, Rhea; two sons, Aaron and Eric; a daughter, Andrea; his parents, William and Sandra; and a brother, David. A service was held Wednesday in Palatine.
