June Penrod Pace

June Penrod Pace, a 61-year resident of Rolling Hills Estates, passed peacefully January 21, 2023.

Lillian June Penrod was born in Carterville, Illinois, to James and Agnes Busch Penrod. Her brother, James, Jr., followed. June married William Arthur (W.A.) Pace on June 25, 1939. Their marriage lasted 73 years until her husband’s death in 2012.

A US Army Air Corps pilot during World War II, W.A. was taken prisoner when his plane was shot down in a raid over Slovakia. He wrote as often as permitted by the Germans. One of his letters given to a Red Cross operative arrived in England, where a ham operator read it over the radio. It was picked up on the US east coast, and June learned that her husband was alive.

In 1951, June and W.A. moved to Venice, California. They both found employment at North American Aviation, where June was a Flight Data Analyst for 33 years.

Moving to their Rolling Hills Estates home in 1961, hosting family and friends was their delight. Their niece, Connie White, and her family enjoyed their pool and patio many Sunday afternoons. Garden Easter egg hunts remain a special family memory.

Traditionally, Friday evenings Aunt June and Uncle W.A. joined family and friends, such as Yolanda Landis, for happy gatherings at the Whites’ Manhattan Beach home.

Retiring on the same day, the Paces cruised on the QE II, studied and attended performances of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, traveling to Germany for the Bayreuth Music Festival. The Paces were devoted to the great jazz bands; Woody Herman’s music was a particular favorite.

June spoke proudly of having climbed Mount Whitney. An ardent sports fan and knitter, she loved watching the Lakers or Dodgers while knitting items for herself or as gifts. In later years, she knitted caps for cancer patients.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Jim, his daughters Carolyn Thomas and Jamie Stafford, niece Connie White, and nephew Don Snyder. June is survived by nieces Janis Trodella and Marcia Dunn, nephew-in-law Bob White, grandnephews Lincoln White, Robert Trodella, Cameron Tune and Darren Tune. Grandnieces include Donna McGraw, Blair McWay, Katy Newsome, Sharon Hoffman, Ann White and Hallie Stafford. Great-grandniece Julia June White is named for her Aunt June.

June and W.A. attended Rolling Hills United Methodist Church.  The Paces’ pastor and friend, Rev. Jonathan Chute will celebrate June’s life with her family and friends on February 18, 2023 at 1:00 pm, Rolling Hills United Methodist Church, 26438 Crenshaw Blvd, Rolling Hills Estates, CA. Interment will be at Riverside National Cemetery on February 21.