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Obituary: Clarence Pace

Posted on May 7, 2009 by Staff

Clarence Pace, 94, former local civic and business leader and head of the General Electric small appliance manufacturing operations in Asheboro, died at home in Chapel Hill on Thursday. He had led a vigorous life and died peacefully, in his sleep, of natural causes.

Mr. Pace was a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, where he spent his childhood. He received his B. S. in engineering at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia in 1927.

He joined General Electric as an engineer, but took a leave to join Stinson Aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas, during World War II to build planes for the war effort. After the war, he returned to GE in Erie, Pennsylvania, where met Roxana Selkregg, who became his bride of sixty years.

After several years in Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City, he came to Asheboro in 1959 to manage the General Electric small housewares division, which manufactured all of the small appliances bearing the GE name for use around the world. He headed this operation until his retirement in 1976.

Mr. Pace was active in many community leadership roles, most notably as a member and chairman of the School Board of the Asheboro City Schools. He was a member of the Asheboro Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs.

The Paces spent their summers with their children in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they owned a cabin that they had purchased from Wallace Beery, the most famous cowboy movie star of the silent screen era. The loved their summers and their friends in Wyoming.

He is survived by Mrs. Pace, and their children: Rebecca Pace of Plattsburgh, New York, Jimmy Pace of Raleigh, and Pamela Pace Heavner and son-in-law Jim Heavner of Chapel Hill; one grandson, Alex Pace of Goldsboro; and nephew Lewis Guy of Norfolk, Virginia.

The Pace family invites friends and those who wish to pay respects to Mr. Pace and to celebrate his life to a reception at the Asheboro Country Club on Wednesday, May 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. More information may be obtained at 919-929-2550.

Mr. Pace will be interred in a private family service at the First Presbyterian Church in Asheboro.

Mr. Pace’s wish is that Memorial Gifts should be directed to the Asheboro public library, which he dearly loved. An avid reader, Mr. Pace was enjoying a good book late into the evening before he passed away in the early morning hours.

Arrangements by Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill, 120 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, (919) 942-3861

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