BICKNELL — Jeff Barron Pace died Jan. 30, 2023, at his home from causes incident to old age. He was 76 years old. Jeff was born June 4, 1946, in Richfield. He is the oldest child of Ralph D. and Una Lucy (Barron) Pace, both deceased.
Jeff graduated from Wayne High School with the class of 1964. He was a varsity wrestler for the WHS Badgers, and very interested in science. He built and launched many model rockets. Some had passengers that survived unscathed. As sophomores, he and Newell Harward decided to build a full-sized glider. The plans for a Franklin Glider were ordered and an aircraft emerged over the next three years. In the weeks following high school graduation, the aircraft was flown at the Wayne County Airport.
Jeff was good with horses and earned his way through college training and shoeing racehorses. He graduated with an associate degree from the College of Southern Utah (now Southern Utah University) and a bachelor’s degree in animal science from BYU in the spring of 1969.
Jeff taught himself to weld and made noteworthy metal sculptures while repairing farm machinery and fixing leaks in the sprinkler system mainline. He taught his nephews to weld and instructed all of us how to hunt ducks safely and successfully. He was well read and could speak intelligently on many subjects, particularly aviation and the history of World Wars I and II. He made his living farming and ranching. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as collecting and shooting muzzle loading firearms.
Jeff married Jennifer Hatch of Safford, Arizona, in the Mesa Arizona LDS temple July 25, 1969. Together they had some good racehorses and they traveled in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. They made a good team and took care of one another.
Jeff is survived by his wife, Jennifer Hatch Pace, Bicknell; brothers, David (Karen) Pace, Richfield; and Paul (Elizabeth) Pace, Bicknell; Nephews, Cameron (Lisa) Pace, Cedar City; Rhett (Lindsey) Pace, Eagle Mountain; Jameson (Kristen) Pace, Loa; John (Jennie) Pace, Ogden; and Andrew (Amy) Pace, Cedar City; and a niece Belinda (Stephen) Wirthlin, Henderson, Nevada.
Jeff lived as a very private person; a small gathering of immediate family will be held at a later date. No flowers please.
The line of our people is a little shorter now, but Jeff braided an important part of it. He will be greatly missed.
Services are under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Homes of Richfield and Salina.
Online guest book at springerturner.com.
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