Ashley DeWitte Pace III, went to Heaven on Thursday, March 3, 2022.

He was born in Pensacola, FL on November 6, 1947, to the late Jane Noonan and Ashley DeWitte Pace, Jr. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, the former Judy Ruggerio, to whom he was married on March 17, 1972. They spent the first year of their marriage in Bermuda while Ashley served in the U.S. Navy.

He also is survived by a devoted son, Ashley DeWitte Pace IV, a devoted daughter, Angela Grace Pace Forth, her husband, Chris, and his beloved grandsons, Christopher Hudson Forth and Walker Rhodes Forth, who affectionately called him "Pal" and brought immense joy to his life as well as to Judy's.

His family remembers him as truly one of a kind -- gentle, patient, generous, and with a great sense of humor and joyful spirit that he used to lift the spirits and bring laughter to those around him.

His interests included golf, boating, music, reading, and cooking and entertaining. He was known for his famous chili, an open house with bouillabaisse every year, perfectly roasted turkey for Thanksgiving dinners, and fried chicken on the Fourth of July.

Like his father, Ashley loved speed -- from boats and sports cars, especially Ferraris, to the Blue Angels. He aspired to be a pilot, also like his dad.

Ashley grew up in North Hill until his family moved to Bayou Texar, where he developed his love of the water and was often accompanied by his boxer, Mac. He became an avid water skier as well as a fisherman.  Later, in one calendar year, he caught a blue marlin, a white marlin and a sailfish and then decided his fishing days were over.

Following his years at local schools, Ashley attended high school at the Darlington School in Rome, GA. After graduation, he attended Birmingham Southern, where he became a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, then transferred to the University of Georgia.

From that time, he became the most avid Bulldog fan on the planet. Forty-one years ago, he saw Georgia win the National Football Championship, and this year, he was able to see them win another.

Although Ashley was limited physically after a stroke in 2009, he never limited himself in his quest for knowledge of sports, current events, business affairs, and politics through news and other media.

He also became the consummate gift giver to his family and friends. At Christmastime, his house was flooded with the many gifts he gave his extended family and friends. But throughout the rest of the year, one never knew when a package would arrive, perhaps with a product he had seen advertised or a specialty item to delight his grandsons. His generosity also included donations to numerous charities and religious and educational institutions.

Always a businessman, his interests included banking, commercial real estate, the shipping industry, and co-ownership of a Drug Emporium.

In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Ashley is survived by his sister, Marcia Pace Lindstrom, and her husband, Fred; his sisters-in-law, Tootie Wanek and Tina Ramsey; his brother-in-law, Paul Ruggerio; and many other family members whose relationships he treasured.

Ashley's effortless way of uplifting us throughout his life left us with an unlimited supply of lighthearted memories that will always be a foundation to support us as we go through this sad time.

A celebration of Ashley's life will be held at 3:30 pm Sunday, March 20, 2022, at the Pensacola Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pensacola Humane Society, 5 N. Q St., Pensacola, FL 32505 or First Tee of NW Florida, 3924 W. Navy Blvd., Pensacola, FL 32507 or a charity of one's choice.