Obituary for William Fox Pace
William (Bill) Pace passed from a cardiac arrest in Daytona Beach on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023 after a nice visit with his wife and a pleasant dinner out in St. Augustine with his daughter. He was 85 years old. Always a relatively quiet, dutiful, and organized man, he nevertheless had a fun side and a good sense of humor. Some friends knew him as Wild Bill and he, together with his TGIF beer buddies, decided the grandchildren would call him Grambo, as Rambo was popular at the time.
Bill was born William Fox Heffner at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC. He grew up in a military family, spending time in Key West, FL; San Antonio, TX; the Philippines and many other places. Displaying his dutiful behavior as a kid, Billie once completed his regular paper route in Bogota while tanks rolled in the streets during a Colombian civil war.
Bill was a graduate of Mount Hermon Preparatory School in Massachusetts, where he was on the diving team, and the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity and met his wife. He later earned a master’s degree in political science from UF, followed by additional coursework in Anthropology. One of the early instructors to teach at St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka, he retired in 2001 after 39 years of service. Before dementia struck, he was an avid reader, great cook, enjoyed classical music, and loved playing golf as well as cheering passionately during Gator football games. Even to the end, he displayed immense intellectual curiosity.
Bill is preceded in death by his dear grandparents, Col. Herbert Edward Pace and Leila Nye Bateman Pace; his mother Dorothy Elizabeth Pace Sikes; and his son, Matthew Fox Pace. He is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Martha May Potts Pace; his brother, Glenn Austin Sikes; his daughters, Victoria Pace and Katrina Reid; four grandchildren (Kirsten, Taylor, Adam, and Amanda); and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of a formal service, a casual celebration of life and toast to Bill will be planned near Mile Marker 10 in the Florida Keys at a later date. Please contact his daughter Victoria for details if interested. Any donations in memory of Bill may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family in Bill’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.
Bill was born William Fox Heffner at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC. He grew up in a military family, spending time in Key West, FL; San Antonio, TX; the Philippines and many other places. Displaying his dutiful behavior as a kid, Billie once completed his regular paper route in Bogota while tanks rolled in the streets during a Colombian civil war.
Bill was a graduate of Mount Hermon Preparatory School in Massachusetts, where he was on the diving team, and the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity and met his wife. He later earned a master’s degree in political science from UF, followed by additional coursework in Anthropology. One of the early instructors to teach at St. Johns River Junior College in Palatka, he retired in 2001 after 39 years of service. Before dementia struck, he was an avid reader, great cook, enjoyed classical music, and loved playing golf as well as cheering passionately during Gator football games. Even to the end, he displayed immense intellectual curiosity.
Bill is preceded in death by his dear grandparents, Col. Herbert Edward Pace and Leila Nye Bateman Pace; his mother Dorothy Elizabeth Pace Sikes; and his son, Matthew Fox Pace. He is survived by his wife of over 65 years, Martha May Potts Pace; his brother, Glenn Austin Sikes; his daughters, Victoria Pace and Katrina Reid; four grandchildren (Kirsten, Taylor, Adam, and Amanda); and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of a formal service, a casual celebration of life and toast to Bill will be planned near Mile Marker 10 in the Florida Keys at a later date. Please contact his daughter Victoria for details if interested. Any donations in memory of Bill may be sent to the American Cancer Society or the charity of your choice.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family in Bill’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.