Samuel Wesley Pace was born on 9/24/1927 in Antlers, Oklahoma to Alma Franklin Pace and Lyddia Almond Pace. He passed away in Paris, Texas on 10/23/2007.

He is survived by his beloved wife, of the home, Margaret Joan Cocke Pace, and four children and spouses, Larry and Lydia Pace Gore of Edmond, Oklahoma, Sam F. and Glenna Pace of Duncan, Oklahoma, Alan and Sandy Pace of Tuttle, Oklahoma, and Scott and Stacie Pace of Antlers, Oklahoma. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brother-in law and sister-in law, John and Jimi Cocke and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 10 siblings and a grandson, Andrew Britton Pace.

He was a graduate of Antlers High School, attended Oklahoma Baptist University and received his BA from Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas in 1951. He attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary, New Orleans, and LA from 1955-1957 and attended Southwestern Baptist Seminary, Fort Worth, TX in 1958. Sam was saved in revival and baptized at Antlers First Baptist Church by A.P. Elliff in 1943. He surrendered to preach at Kiamichi Baptist Assembly in 1944 and was licensed to preach by Antlers First Baptist Church. In 1945, Sam joined the United States Marine Corps to proudly serve his country during World War II. He served in the Western Pacific and North China. He preached his first sermon in White Russian Baptist Church in Tientsin, China where he was attended by two interpreters, Russian and Chinese. He always wondered what words the two actually interpreted! After the war, Sam taught school at Moyer, Antlers, and Kellond Schools, but knew God was calling him into full-time ministry. His full-time pastorates included Lone Pine Baptist Church, Winnsboro, Louisiana; First Baptist Church, Bloomburg, Texas; First Baptist Church, Talihina, Oklahoma; First Baptist Church, Anadarko, Oklahoma; Western Hills Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served as Director-Treasurer of the Comanche-Cotton Baptist Association in Lawton, Oklahoma, beginning in 1971. He continued to serve as Missionary Emeritus of Comanche-Cotton Baptist Association after his retirement in 1991. Sam Pace's life-long service for the Lord included leading association ACTION workshops for Baptist Sunday School Board; participating in Foreign Mission Board South African WIN School in 1977; Board of Directors, Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma; Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Baptist University, 1977-1981; Annual Sermon at the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in 1980; President of Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma in 1980-1981; Committee on Boards, Southern Baptist Convention in 1981; Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention in 1983-1991; Secretary, Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention in 1981-l989 and Chairman, Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention in 1989 - 1991. Following his retirement in 1991, Sam continued to serve as interim pastor in churches in Rattan, Oklahoma; Clayton, Oklahoma; Atoka, Oklahoma; and Powderly, Texas. Sam was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Antlers, Oklahoma and his voice resounding with an "AMEN" will be missed by his family and friends.

Memorials may be sent to the First Baptist Church Building Fund in Antlers, Oklahoma or to Kiamichi Baptist Assembly, Talihina, Oklahoma.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, March 26, 2007, at the Antlers First Baptist Church with Burial Following at Oddfellows Cemetery in Antlers, Oklahoma. Reverend Aaron Reed will be officiating.