Rev. Donald Ray Pace

It is with heavy hearts that we mark the passing of Rev. Donald Ray Pace, 92, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, who went home to be with the Lord on October 6, 2021, after a full and vigorous life. He is remembered as an affectionate family man and devoted Christian who introduced countless people to the unconditional love and salvation of Jesus Christ.

Born from the union of Daniel Alex Pace and Kathleen (Carland) Pace, Rev. Don Pace hailed from Tryon, North Carolina. He grew up as an only child and was rather rambunctious and troublesome, a fact he wasn’t always proud to admit, but one that helped him bridge a closer connection to God in later years. Rev. Don Pace often talked about how he would have likely gone down a dark path, had he not found salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord on June 9, 1963.

Rev. Don Pace’s path to finding the Lord began with the love of his life, Shirley (Robertson) Pace, whom he married in 1950, the same year he was drafted into the United States Army. Rev. Don Pace and his bride went on to share four children – Judy, Mike, Linda, and Greg – and raise their grandson, Justin Baker. The couple celebrated seven wonderful decades together and would have rung in their 71st anniversary next month.

Rev. Don Pace was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1954 and it was his wife, Shirley, who proved to be one of the biggest Christian influences on his life. Shirley’s dedication and persistence to get Rev. Don Pace to attend church with her and their children paved the way for Rev. Don Pace to find salvation. He was called of the Lord to preach on January 8, 1967, while under the ministry of the Rev. L.K. (Chick) Holbert of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and ordained as a Baptist minister on June 26, 1969, by Friendship Baptist Church in Saluda, North Carolina.

Throughout the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, Rev. Don Pace pastored at numerous Baptist churches across North Carolina. He began preaching through radio ministry in the 1980s at WCKI of Greer, South Carolina and continued to broadcast from 1993 through 2016 on WPLK in Palatka, Florida. Countless individuals’ lives were influenced by the love and compassion of Rev. Don Pace, but more importantly, his ministry introduced the unconditional love and salvation of Jesus Christ to the masses.

Affectionately known as ‘Paw’ by loved ones, Rev. Don Pace had many hobbies outside of ministry. He enjoyed fishing, building, and working on cars. He was a jokester who loved to make people laugh. He always knew what to do or say to put a smile on anyone’s face. Paw’s presence around the dinner table and voice on the radio will be sorely missed.

Rev. Don Pace is predeceased by his father, Daniel Alex Pace; mother, Kathleen (Carland) Pace; and son, Michael Pace. He leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Shirley (Robertson) Pace; son, Greg Pace; daughters, Judy Retzbach and Linda Martin; grandson, Justin Baker; granddaughter, Shirl Guilmette; numerous other grandsons and great-grandchildren; and close family friend, Betty Banther.

No services are being held. There will be a direct burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Memorial donations can be made to Faith in God Ministries, PO Box G, East Flat Rock, North Carolina 28726 (https://faithingodnc.com/give).