Lt Col Richard Culver Brace

He was born in Randolph New York on Aug. 13, 1934, the son of the late Eddy John Brace and Gretchen Lenore (Culve) Bracer. He married the one true love of his life Jeanette Lenora Warning from Orchard Park New York 67 years ago on April 19, 1958.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, his sister, Sandra J. Brace, and his four children, Rick, Kim, Randy, Kris, with their families as follows: Richard (Mary) Brace, daughter, Rachel Brace (James Cubas) children: Tesla, Iggy, Ciaran, daughter Dawn Brace (Chad Power), son, Andrew Kerr, daughter, Mallory (Dane) Pereira. Kimberly (Otto) Granhaug, son, Eric (Amanda) Granhaug children: Graham, Daphne, Whitney, and Bryce, son, Karl Granhaug (deceased), son, Stefan (Nancy) Granhaug children: Ethan, Kimberly. Randall (Amy) Brace son, Justin Brace, daughter, Jessica (Kyle) Rychlik children: Bennett, Emma, Andrew, daughter Brittany (Ben) Davies children: Bryce, Beau, son, Austin Brace. Kristen (Jerry) Faine, son, Jesse (Christine) Faine children: Austin, Aiden, son, Josh (Kayleen) Faine children: Brooks, Remi, son, Jeremy (Lauren) Faine children: Jameson, Liana, daughter Kayleen (Ben) Faine.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and three siblings, Judith (Ronald) Jensen, Eddy Jerome (Nancy) Brace and Penelope Brace.

Dick was a 1952 graduate of Randolph Central School, and a 1956 graduate of the University of Buffalo with a B.A. in Biology. He was a member of R.O.T.C. in college, and after graduation, while awaiting his assignment in the Air Force, Dick taught one year at Falconer Central School, teaching science, chemistry and physics. Dick was assigned to Wheelus Air Force Base in Libya, Africa in September 1958 where he was a weapons controller in the 633rd A.C. & W. Squadron (Aircraft Control and Warning) as well as the Mediterranean Commander of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Son Rick and daughter Kim were born in Libya. In 1962, Dick was assigned to the 755th A.C. & W. Squadron in Chicago Illinois. Son Randy was born in Chicago. For several months, the family lived in Montgomery, AL where Dick attended Squadron Officers School. In 1963 the family moved to Dayton, Ohio where Dick graduated from the Wright Patterson Armed Forces Institute of Technology with a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering. Daughter Kris was born in Dayton. Dick’s next assignment was in Riverside, CA where he was Operations Flight Commander of the 33rd (SAC and AFCS) Communications Squadron. While stationed in California he also attended the University of Southern California where he received his M.S. Degree in Aerospace Systems Management. An overseas assignment came next – in 1968 Dick and the family moved to Izmir, Turkey. While in Izmir Dick was an Engineer and Director of the N.A.T.O. Air Defense Ground Environment System (NADGE). In 1970 Dick and the family moved to Bethlehem, PA where he was Assistant Professor of Aerospace Sciences and completed the course work, dissertation, and successfully defended his dissertation to receive his Doctorate Degree in Education from Lehigh University in 1974. In July of 1974 Dick and the family moved to San Antonio Texas, where he was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base where he was the first commander of the reorganized 3270th Technical Training Group, Electronics and Cryptographic School, with a security detachment in Presidio Monterey, CA. In 1979 Dick was selected by General Trez to function as his aide and assistant to reorganize the troubled Department of Defense English Language Center. When this task was well under way Dick took the position of Academic Dean of the Center and remained there for eight years as the Dean, until his retirement on April 31, 1986. During that eight years Dick and often Jean visited English language schools the center had established around the world. Dick was able to visit and/or live in over 35 countries and 5 of the seven continents (not Australia or Antarctica) including most of the Middle East, South America and Western Asia. Together they saw Norway, Hawaii, Panama, Germany, England, Belgium, France, Liberia and Austria. After Dick’s retirement from the Air Force he became Vice President of Jefferson Technical College in Steubenville, Ohio in 1986, which he helped transform into Jefferson Community College (JCC) in 1994. Dick became a consultant/evaluator for the North Central Association of Colleges and Universities while Vice President of JCC. He was named chair for the team visits. Evaluation and seminar trips allowed Dick and Jean to visit most of the United States as well as Liberia, North Africa to visit their daughter Kim and her family, and Europe again. Dick retired from JCC on Dec. 31, 1997. Dick and Jean moved into their lakefront retirement home of their dreams, that they built together in 2000.

Dick has been a life-time member of the American Legion Post 181, Randolph; a member of the Grand Lodge #359 F&AM as a 32∂ Scottish Rite Mason; a NRA Endowment Member; Phi Delta Kappa; Arnold Air Society; Air Force Association; Rotary International; American Association of College Administrators; and a member of Mensa. He has been the past president of the following organizations: the Steubenville Convention and Visitors Bureau; Steubenville Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Board; Ohio two-year college Chief Instructional Officers Association and the Canyon Lake Hills Civic Club. At Canyon Lake, Dick and Jean attended the United Methodist Church; Canyon Lake Art Guild; Friends of Canyon Lake; Cryptologic reunions; and Dick was a driver for Drivers for the American Cancer Society.

Dick was known to be focused, hardworking, and strict, but he had the biggest heart for everyone. He had the highest levels of humility, integrity, honor, loyalty, and honesty, and he was quite witty and funny with his, often sarcastic, humor. He loved hot dogs, popcorn, shooting guns and a good bourbon and water. Dick was an excellent photographer and always taking pictures of family and wildlife. He could fix anything, enjoyed reading about, and looking, at fast cars, especially red ones. Dick had a love of airplanes, he could name them, often before others even saw them, he enjoyed building and flying u-control planes with his two sons. He enjoyed taking the family travelling, camping and hiking. Dick and Jean loved playing the game “Chase the Ace” and board game “Joker” with friends and family. Dick would always answer his phone just in case it was someone he knew who might need help.

He was a devoted, son, brother, husband, and father. He treated his sisters like princesses and his wife like a queen. And he grieved heavily when he lost both his brother Jerry and sisters Judy, and Penny too early in life. Everyone who knew him loved him, as he loved back unconditionally.

To leave a condolence, log onto www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com. Local arrangements entrusted to the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, Randolph, NY.