Albert F. Rice, 74, of 19 Wetherell St. died yesterday at Fairlawn Hospital after a brief illness.
He retired in 1968 after 35 years as an inspector at American Steel & Wire Co.
  He leaves his wife, Edith M. (Burbank) Rice; a son, James F. Rice of Worcester, a professor at Quinsigamond Community College; two daughters, Kathleen M. Hidenfelter Ecker, wife of Kenneth Ecker of Holden, and Marjorie A., wife John E. Falcone of Paxton; a brother, Frederick W. Rice of Sutton; a sister, Mrs. Loretta C. Brown of Sutton; 10 grandchildren, one nephew and three nieces. He was born in Worcester, son of Michael and Catherine (Carroll) Rice.
  Mr. Rice was a charter member of the men’s Club of St. Andrew the Apostle parish.
  The funeral  will be held Tuesday from O’Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Ave., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 16 Vineyard Ave. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton.
  Calling hours at the funeral home are 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow. The family requests flowers be omitted. Members of the St. Andrew’s Men’s Club will meet at 8 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home to conduct their ritual.