Stephen Pace Jr.: Jan. 6, 2015

Published 4:36 pm Wednesday, January 7, 2015

PERRY — Stephen Pace Jr., 91, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. Funeral services will be held on at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, at Perry United Methodist Church. Interment will also be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Sunset Memorial Gardens in Americus. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions to Perry United Methodist Church, Heart of Georgia Hospice, the League of the Good Samaritan at Magnolia Manor, or to the charity of your choice.

Steve was born March 23, 1923, in Americus, Ga., the son of the late Congressman Stephen Pace and Grace Ragan Pace. He was an Eagle Scout who served as assistant Scoutmaster and vice president of Chehaw Council. While attending Emory University in 1941, Steve was appointed as a cadet of the United States Military Academy where he was a member of the West Point Glee Club, manager of the Army football team of 1944, and served as a member of the military escort that took President Franklin Roosevelt to his final resting place.

After graduation and commission as second lieutenant, Infantry, Regular Army, Steve was assigned to the 24th Infantry Division and served in Japan during the occupation. Following his discharge as a first lieutenant, he received his juris doctor degree in 1951, from the University of Georgia and in 1957 was named executive secretary for Sen. Walter F. George.

In 1975, Steve was appointed District Attorney for the Houston County Judicial Circuit where he served until 198, and was named District Attorney Emeritus. He was then appointed director of Development for Andrew College where he served from 1983 to 1987.

A dedicated member of Perry United Methodist Church, Steve served as a Lay Leader and member of the Administrative Board as well as IHS Sunday School class teacher for many years. Steve served also as president of the Perry Kiwanis Club and as lieutenant governor for the Division in 1969 and 1970. He was named “Man of the Year” for the Ingleside Kiwanis Club in Macon, Ga., and in 1998 Steve was named “Kiwanian of the Year” for the Perry club.

A loving husband and father, loyal friend and devoted Christian, Steve is survived by his wife of 67 years, Grace Greene, two sons, Stephen III (Sandi) of Macon, Mark (Kay) of Americus; three grandchildren, Keith (Jennifer) of Niceville, Fla., Christie Pace of Perry, Alvin Pace of Atlanta; two great-grandchildren, Laura Kate and Julianna of Niceville, Fla., and one niece, Stephanie Swift of San Diego, Calif., the daughter of his sister, Martha (William) Swift, deceased, of Columbus.

The family would like to thank all of the Heart of Georgia Hospice staff and Dr. Soundappan for the kindness and loving care that Steve received while there.

Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com

Watson Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.