Roy M. Pace, USN, Retired, passed away peacefully into the arms of his Savior Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Lynnfield Place in Selmer, TN. Mr. Pace was born January 9, 1921, near Rogers, Benton County, AR to Ernest Dean Pace, Sr. and Edna Pollock Pace. He resided in northwest Arkansas until the age of seventeen when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July of 1938.
Serving in the Western Pacific Fleet, Mr. Pace was a veteran of WWII, and a Pearl Harbor Survivor. He was in the major battles of Midway and Coral Sea and a veteran of the Korean Conflict. During his naval service, he traveled to nearly every continent. After retiring from the military, he moved back briefly to NW AR where he farmed for a few years. However, he decided on a new career and moved his family to Memphis, TN where he worked for many years as a sergeant with the Memphis Airport Police Department. Moving again to be near their daughter and young grandchildren brought Mr. and Mrs. Pace to Corinth where they lived for many years. Mr. Pace worked some of this time with McCarter’s Security Service. Later, they moved back to his beloved Ozarks, where they enjoyed retirement and some traveling, and entertained visitors they loved to host. After the death of his wife, he returned to Corinth where he made his home until health issues required more assistance. At that time he moved to Lynnfield Place in Selmer where he received the best of care and attention and called it home. He was an active member of Tate Baptist Church, enjoying Herby Key’s Sunday School Class and Bro. Mickey Trammel’s messages until his health prevented attendance. Mr. Pace was a sports enthusiast and in his lifetime he enjoyed participating on military baseball teams and the Navy boxing team. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a big St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Team fan. In his fifties he took flying lessons and bought a plane that he loved to fly, and enjoyed that for many years. He also enjoyed making furniture. He believed in living the Bible’s teachings, and loved his Lord. He was a gracious and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Besides his parents, Mr. Pace was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta Smith Pace, his grandson, Jamie Judkins, his brothers: Ernest D. Pace, Jr.; Kenneth Pace, and Richard W. Pace. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Gale and Guy Judkins of Corinth; his grandson and his wife and children, John, Tabatha, Julianna and Pace Judkins of Oxford, MS; his sister, Beverly Ann Thomas of Rogers, AR, and his sister-in-law, Virginia Pace, of Wyoming, IA; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services with military honors will be Tuesday at 1pm with visitation prior to the service starting at 10 a.m., at Tate Baptist Church. Interment will be in Henry Cemetery. Bro. Mickey Trammel will be conducting the service with Gale Judkins delivering the eulogy. Pallbearers include John Judkins, Pace Judkins, Chris Thomas, Steve Dirks, Joe Spencer and Guy Judkins. The family requests that if you wish to make a memorial, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517 Topeka, KS 66675, or St. Jude’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 2151 Memphis, TN 38101-2151. Magnolia Funeral Home is honored to care for the family of Roy M. Pace. Online condolences may be expressed at magnoliafuneralhome.net
