Obituary of Edward L. Pace

Major Edward L. Pace USAF Retired, 87, of Harlingen/South Padre Island, Texas passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 in Harlingen, Texas.

He served in 23 years active service in the USAF Master Sergeant then promoted to Major as a Certified Meteorologist. Edward held various stateside assignments, also Korea, Panama, Japan. He served in the Dutch Airforce and the Philippine Airforce. Edward accomplished missions over and in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. He had numerous overseas deployments to Germany, Turkey, Lebanon, Morocco and the Azores Islands. From 1970 to 1982, Edward continued to serve his country in the US Airforce Reserves; 1982 to 1993 as Special Security Officer with the State of Texas and Commander of 304^th and 303^rd Military Police Battalion Texas State Guard in Rank of Lieutenant Colonel Rio Grande Valley; and from 1989 to 2009 he served as a Texas State Peace Officer for Laguna Vista and South Padre Island. Edward genuinely enjoyed all the above assignments and found them challenging, interesting, and enlightening. He retired in 2009 to spend more time with his family but remained employed with Marina Village Incorporated at Port Isabel.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George W. Pace and Nora M. Pace; sisters, Marjorie A. Pace, Betty J. Pace, and Ruth Miller; and brother, George A. Pace.

Edward is survived by his loving wife, Lucila M. Pace; children, Cheryl J. Pace, Jeannie Y. Pace, and Tracey E. Pace; stepchildren, Ruth Y. Delgado, David Lee Delgado, and Pamela J. Delgado; and sister, Julia Stafford.

Visitation will begin Wednesday, December 19, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a holy rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas

A chapel service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at Thomae-Garza Funeral Home with interment to follow at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery in Mission, Texas.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Thomas Delgado, David Delgado, Joey Cuevas, Thomas Mark Rodriguez, Aaron Arriola, Jarod Rivera, and Carmelo Trujillo.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Edward L. Pace to the Laguna Madre Boys & Girls Club, 190 Port Rd., Port Isabel, TX 78578.

You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle, or send words of comfort to the family of Major Edward L. Pace USAF Retired at: www.thomaegarza.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care of Thomae-Garza Funeral Directors and Crematorium, 395 S. Sam Houston, San Benito, Texas, (956) 399-1331.