Glen Arthur Grace was born Feb. 5, 1921, in Stayton, Ore., to Hugh and Ethel Grace. On October 28, 2016, all of heaven rejoiced as one of its saints came home. On that warm and beautiful day, Glen met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ face-to-face.
He was the third child and only boy in the family of five children. Early in his life, the family moved to Salem, Ore., where Glen attended school and graduated from Salem Senior High School. After graduation, he moved to Burbank, Calif., and went to work for Lockheed Aircraft Company. His next move was to Bremerton, Wash., where he worked as a high rigger in the Puget Sound Navy Yard. It was during this time that Glen met the love of his life, Elsie Neuert. A short time later, Glen entered the United States Navy. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and attended torpedo school in San Diego, Calif. On July 1, 1944, Glen and Elsie were married. After World War II was over, they moved to South Bend, Wash., where Glen worked as a lead maintenance man for Weyerhaeuser.
Glen accepted Jesus’ free gift of eternal life March 28, 1951, and followed Jesus the rest of his life. He felt the call on his life to enter the ministry. After much study, correspondence courses and diplomas earned, Glen, Elsie and their two children, Gerald and Sheryl, ventured out in evangelistic services in 1962. Glen later pastored the church at Mary’s Corner (now Jackson Prairie Church), south of Chehalis, for 10 years. After that, he pastored a church in Aberdeen for two years and then moved to Yakima, Wash., where he pastored 11 years at the Lighthouse Temple church. Upon retirement, Glen and Elsie moved back to Chehalis and he became involved in teaching a Bible class at the Twin Cities Senior Center for 25 years.
His hobbies were stained glass, gardening and word search puzzles. His grandchildren, Steven and Carmen, Daniel and Jolleen, were blessed to live close by to be able to soak in their grandpa’s wisdom and love. He was loved, adored and he will be greatly missed.
Glen was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; and wife, Elsie.
He is survived by his son, Gerald Grace of Centralia; daughter, Sheryl (Robert) Rudelic of San Francisco, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Sharon Grace of Chehalis; grandsons, Steven (Carmen) Grace and Daniel (Jolleen) Grace of Chehalis; step-granddaughter, Morgan; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He lived a full life in this old world and all that knew him, knew he was ready for the New World to come. How about you?
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, at Claquato Cemetery in Chehalis, Wash.
