Pace, Auburn Russell "Jon"
passed away peacefully November 18, 2010 with his family at his side. He was born at his parent's home in Lansing, Michigan on August 1, 1923. He served in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in Italy, and returned to battle until the end of WWII. Upon his discharge, he returned to Lansing where he took up construction as his profession, building many homes for returning GI's and their families. He also built homes in Florida and Arizona. In 1964 he moved his family to Arizona and went to work for General Motors Desert Proving Grounds in Queen Creek. He worked first as a test car driver and finally as a Construction Supervisor until his retirement in 1988. During his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golf, competitive sports and owned a racehorse for a period of time. Weekends in Las Vegas and Laughlin were among his favorite pastimes. After his retirement, he and his wife Laura engaged in many activities at the Scottsdale Senior Center and took great pride and pleasure in Ballroom Dancing. Jon is survived by his wife of 24 years, Laura of Scottsdale; her children Gene (Joyce) Uczen of Scottsdale, Alice (Frank) Hladon of Maricopa and Tom (Kathy) Uczen of Chicago. His children include Linda (Roy) Parfitt of Gig Harbor, WA, Jon Pace of Sacramento, CA and Kim Kelly of Mesa and their mother Gladys Pace of Mesa. The number of grandchildren and great grandchildren between Laura and Auburn is 27. There are many nieces and nephews on both sides who will miss him greatly. A visitation will be held from 5:00PM -
8:00PM Monday, November 22nd with scripture service at 7:00PM at Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale. A funeral service will be held at 11:30AM Tuesday, November 23rd at the mortuary. Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix.
ARIZONA REPUBLIC 21 NOV. 2010