Rufus "Pooch" Pace

Rufus “Pooch” Pace, age 98, of Hendersonville, NC, passed away on September 1, 2025, in Hendersonville, NC. Rufus was born in Hendersonville, NC, on August 3, 1927, to the late Finley Pace, Sr. and Margaret Oxendine Pace.

Rufus proudly served our country in the United States Army Air Corps in Japan in 1945 and in the U.S. Air Force reserves during the Korean War in 1957. Rufus graduated from the class of 1948 at Mills River High School. He also attended Mars Hill College. Throughout his life, he worked at Pace Heating and Plumbing. He also started, and served on the Henderson County Honor Guard for 70 years.

Rufus is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Jean Wilson Pace; brothers, Howard Pace, Finley Pace, and Alan Pace; sister, Evelyn Oxendine Mason; and grandson, Jonathan Marfin Pace.

Rufus is survived by his children, Gary Marfin Pace (Marie), of Hendersonville, NC, Donna Jean Morris, of Hendersonville, NC, and R. Dewey Pace Jr. (Cecelia), of Hendersonville, NC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Marcesa Harper (Joshua), of Hendersonville, NC, Nathaniel Pace, of Hendersonville, NC, Nicolas Pace, of Hendersonville, NC, Mitchel Pace (Ali), of Boone, NC, Shelbi Pace, of Hendersonville, NC, and Avery Pace, of Hendersonville, NC; his great-grandchildren, Harwin Harper and Finley Harper; and also his brother, Carl Dudley Pace (Betty), of Hendersonville, NC.

A memorial service will be held on September 14, 2025, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM at the American Legion in Hendersonville, NC. Mitchel Pace will officiate the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Four Seasons Hospice of Henderson County.

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