Larry Pace

      Larry Pace, age 84, of East Bernard, passed away January 15, 2024, at Arbor Hills Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Eagle Lake. He was born on January 14, 1940, in Wheeling, West Virginia to the late Paul and Pearl Tribett Pace.

     Larry was raised in Sallt Lake City, Utah area. He served in the U.S. Marines, was honorably discharged and a true PATRIOT. He served his Mormon mission in 1968 in California. On December 1, 1979, he married Veronica Jochec in Missouri City, Texas. His profession was Electrical Engineering and the last 30 years of his career were with Bechtel Engineering. Together he and Veronica traveled to many job sites across the US and overseas. He was so intelligent and worldly and could speak about any subject with depth and integrity.

         Larry was a kind man and had a heart of gold. He loved to read especially history, listen to classical music and discuss politics. His passion was growing a beautiful garden and designing flower beds. He was also a great sketch artist. He enjoyed his Wednesday morning breakfasts at the local Methodist Church where he made a lot of friends. So many of them said he was one of the smartest men they had ever met- and he was! He loved his fur-baby, Cassie and was always so happy for her to visit him during his last days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Larry Pace, Jr. and Cory Pace, grandson, Jeremy Pace, sister, Sharron Tripp and brother Charlie Pace.

     He is survived by his wife, Veronica Pace of East Bernard, sons, Paul Pace of Salt Lake City; step son, Drew Dunbar and significant other Nikki Miller of Port Alto, sister, Melody Pace, of Moab Utah, brother, Paul Pace and wife, Holly of Parawon, Utah, granddaughter, Larissa Laucomer and husband, Chad of Portland, Oregon, grandson, Savage Pace of Cedar City, Utah, father in law, Richard Jochec of East Bernard, sisters-in-law, Nancy Seydler and husband, Harry of East Bernard, Susan Jochec of East Bernard, brothers-in-law, Don Tripp of Salt Lake City, Utah, Louis Jochec and wife, Denise of Santa Ana, CA; Jimmy Jochec and wife, Delores of East Bernard.

         Special thanks to Houston Hospice, El Campo and caretakers Jack Douglas, Cheryl Sanford and Dez Pittman for their exceptional care. Also a huge thank you to his sisters-in-law Nancy Seydler and Susan Jochec for always being at his side and helping to care for him, and to Dr. Larry Penick for guiding the family through this difficult journey.  Semper Fi!

         Donations in Larry Pace’s memory may be made to the Houston Hospice, El Campo, the Wharton County SPOT the East Bernard EMS or a charity of your choice.

           A Celebration of his Life will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11 a.m. at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in East Bernard, TX.

Funeral services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com