Obituary of Manuel Rife

Mr. Manuel Rife formally of Rife Lane, Fonda was a current resident of Hillcrest Spring passed away unexpectedly early Monday morning at St. Mary?s Hospital, Amsterdam. Born on November 7, 1920 in Kennedy, Kentucky he was the son of Hiram and Menerva Charles Rife. Mr. Rife was educated in Kentucky and moved to the local area in 1948. He married Ruth Kehoe Rife on April 24, 1948 after they met in West Point, while both serving in the United States Army. Mr. Rife served as a sergeant with the United States Army during World War II. Mr. Rife and his wife owned the R&R drive-in, Tribes Hill for 10 years. Previous to the drive-in he was the owner and operator of Rife & King Construction Company in Tribes Hill. He was also a former member of the Tribes Hill Vol. Fire Dept and was also an avid gardener. Mr. Rife was predeceased by 3 brothers and a sister. In addition to his wife survivors include, a son Edward Rife of Tampa, FL; a daughter; Ann M. May and her husband Donald of Amsterdam; a brother Arnold Rife of Upper Sandusky, Ohio; a sister Delphia Justice of Zebulon, KY; 8 grandchildren, Christopher May, Donald May and his daughter Antonia May, Michael May, Michael Dwyer, Ruth Ann Rife, Melvin Rife, Rose Ferguson, and Katrina Rife; 8 great grandchildren and several nieces, and nephews also survive. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday at 11am at the Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main Street, Fultonville. A Calling hour will precede the funeral from 10 until 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Evergreen Cemetery, Fonda. Memorial Contributions may be made in his memory to St. Mary Hospital Foundation, 427 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, NY 12010.