Gerald Michael 'Jerry' Pace

Gerald Michael (Jerry) Pace, Sr. passed away suddenly at age 78 on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at his home in Salem, Virginia. Jerry was born in Pulaski, Virginia on January 7, 1934 to the late Willard Harvey Pace and Blanche Hinson Pace. He attended Pulaski High School, and graduated from Hampden-Sydney College. He was a husband, father, grandfather, businessman, community servant, educator, golf fan, entertainer, cancer survivor, friend to everyone, and storyteller to all. Jerry worked for the General Electric Company from 1963-1975, serving as manager of its sheet metal shop, and was part of the GE team that installed electronics in nuclear submarines under construction in the 1960s. He was later part owner in CAPCO, a machine tool manufacturing company, and a co-owner of Davis-Taylor-Forster Company, a machine tool manufacturing sales company. At the time of his death, Jerry was president of Pace Management Systems, Inc., a machine tool manufacturing sales consulting company. Jerry served on the Salem School Board for 15 years from its inception, and one term on Salem City Council. He also served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia, and on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Western Community College Foundation. He was an adjunct professor at Virginia Western Community College where he taught sales and marketing, industrial safety, algebra, and manufacturing processes. Jerry was very engaged in civic affairs and economic development activities in the Roanoke Valley. He was also a Mason and member of the Taylor Masonic Lodge #3 in Salem, and a member of the Kazim Shrine Temple in Roanoke. Jerry was especially passionate about education. He was instrumental in helping to establish the CCAP Program, a partnership between Virginia Western Community College, Salem Public Schools, and Roanoke City Public Schools, which allows high school graduates to attend VWCC without paying tuition. Jerry was a scholar of the writings of Apostle Paul and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He taught Sunday school classes on these topics at First United Methodist Church in Salem, and to civic and other community groups. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity (Iota Chapter) at Hampden-Sydney College. Married for 49 years to Jeanne, his high school sweetheart, the two danced through life together until her death in 2005. Jerry was proud of his sons and their families: Mike and Nancy Pace and their daughters, Maggi and Cate Pace, of Salem, and Jon and Elen Pace and their daughter, Claire, and son, Jack, of Charlotte, North Carolina. Jerry is also survived by his brother, Harold Duane Pace and wife, Mary Sue Pace, of Pulaski, Virginia; sister, Mary Pace Dean and her husband, Roger Dean, also of Pulaski, Virginia; and special nieces and nephews: Susan Pace Morris, Sarah Pace Huddle, Jordan Morris, and Brent Dean. Jerry also loved his devoted companion and special friend, Carol J. Jensen, who loved and cared about him. Jerry's legacy lives on in the thousands of people who were entertained by his stories and touched by his commitment to improve the lives of others through education. His smiling face and jovial character will be missed by all who knew him. The family will receive visitors at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem on Friday, April 20 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A memorial service celebrating Jerry's life will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Salem. A committal service will follow at East Hill Cemetery as well as a reception at the Salem Historical Society. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Jeanne Andrew Pace and Gerald M. Pace Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Salem Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 1461, Salem, Virginia 24153; or to the Virginia Western Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 14007, Roanoke, VA 24038. An online guestbook is available at www.johnmoakey.com. The Pace family is being served by John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, 540-389-5441.