Horace Lamar Pace

Visitation for Horace Lamar Pace will be Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with a memorial service celebrating the life of H. Lamar Pace at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church West Chapel in Minden, Louisiana with military rites. Bro. Leland Crawford and Bro. Lee Dickson will be officiating.

Lamar, also known as “Molly,” to his oldest friends, was born on May 29, 1931, in Minden, Louisiana and went to his heavenly home on November 25, 2025, in Minden, Louisiana. He served his country in the United States Navy as a Radarman III Class on the U.S.S. Yancey – AKA #93 from 1951-1954 during the Korean War.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dan Thomas Pace, Sr. and Mary Elva Bishop Pace, his brother, Dan Thomas Pace, Jr., sister-in-law, Jane Pugh and grandson, Nicholas Wilson.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Ruth Grady Pace of Minden; daughters, Deborah Wilson and husband, Terry of Springfield, Ohio; Nina Smith and husband, Greg of Minden; and Lisa Gould and husband, Jason of Dubberly; grandchildren, Kyle Marks and wife, Sarah of Haughton, LA; Jason Smith and wife, Kelli of Minden, LA; Kristopher Ryan and wife, Erica of Bossier City, LA; Daniel Wilson and wife, Jennifer of Dayton, OH; Tyler Wilson and wife, Briana of Columbus, OH; Jalen Gould and wife, Claire of Jonesboro, AR; and Liana Gould of Ruston, LA, as well as five great-grandchildren, Kaden Marks, Madeline Marks, Raegan Ryan, Beckett Marks, and Riley Ryan and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lamar was an administrator, coach, counselor and educator in Natchitoches, Webster and Claiborne parishes. He retired as an employee of the State of Louisiana in 1985.

Lamar attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA from 1950-51 where he played football before enlisting in the United States Navy. He later returned to Northwestern State University where he earned a master’s degree.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Lamar attended East Texas Baptist College in Marshall, TX where he met Ruth. He earned a B.S. degree with a dual major in Physical Education and History. He worked as an engineer at the LA Army Ammunition Plant in Minden, LA. He then went on to become the first principal of Glenbrook School until he joined the vocational and technical education system.

He served as a counselor at the Northwest LA Vocational Technical School in Minden, LA and later became Assistant Director before transferring to Claiborne Vo-Tech School in Homer, LA, where he later retired as Director in 1985.

He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Minden, a Sunday School teacher for several years at First Baptist Church in Homer, LA and Bistineau Baptist Church in Heflin, LA and later returned to First Baptist Church in Minden where he taught Sunday School.

The family would like to express our deepest thanks to The Columns of Germantown and Passages Hospice and numerous friends and family who helped with caregiving.

Memorials can be sent to: First Baptist Church of Minden or Samaritan’s Purse.