Howard W. Pace passed away July 21, 2026 in Albuquerque, NM. Howard was born on May 9, 1946, in Las Vegas, NM and graduated from Robertson High School in Las Vegas. Shortly after graduation, along with several friends, Howard enlisted in the US Navy and completed training to be a hospital corpsman. He served his country during the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1968. He was awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat V for heroic achievement during which his platoon came under intense enemy fire from a numerically superior ambush force. Howard disregarded his own safety and unhesitatingly ran 150 meters under fire to reach the most seriously wounded Marine. Howard administered first aid under enemy fire and ceased his valiant efforts only after the Marine succumbed to his wounds. Howard moved on to each remaining casualty under enemy fire administering first aid and assisting them to move to covered positions. Due to his actions in the face of extremely intense enemy fire, he was instrumental in saving several wounded Marines from further injury or death.

Howard, who was known as Bud to his siblings, was preceded in death by his mother, Carmen C. Pace, brother, Don W. Pace, and nephew, Howard Keith Bryant. He is survived by siblings Sharon M. Carleton and her children Jon Carleton and Chandra Field, Richard Pace and his son, Michael Pace, Charles Pace, MD (Martha) and their children Michelle Graziano, Caitlin Pace, and Annelise Aragon, and Linda St. Angelo (Mark) and their children, Richard St. Angelo and Daniel St. Angelo. He is also survived by grand nieces and nephews Sierra, Mya, Jacobi, Arabella, Lana, KC, Coralie, Eli and Marcus. Finally, he is survived by his very special lifelong friend whom we consider a family member, Annette White, RN of San Francisco, CA.

Bud was a loving brother who always made himself available to anyone needing assistance. Family was very important to Bud, and he spent years researching genealogy and assembling family trees for each member of the family, including nieces and nephews. He loved his nieces and nephews as if they were his own and would have done anything for them. He was incredibly kind, generous, and selfless, always putting the people he loved before himself. He had a special way of making people feel like family, whether they were related by blood or not. He will be sorely missed.

Funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Las Vegas, NM on 9/3/2026 at 9:00 am.