Mr. Samuel "Pace" Getzen III's Obituary
Mr. Samuel “Pace” Getzen, III, 76, lifelong resident of Newberry, Florida, died Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at the Williston Rehab and Care Center, following a long illness.
Mr. Getzen was born on November 2, 1946, to the late Sam and Geraldine Getzen and lived in Newberry his entire life. He was a graduate of Newberry High School, and then graduated from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. As a young man, he worked for Fletchers Tractor Shop in Newberry, beginning a long love of tractors and a lifelong hobby, of remodeling and restoring old tractors, particularly John Deere’s. For a short period of time, he drove a school bus for Columbia County and then began his career as an vo-tech educator at Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida. He held this position for 44 years, until his retirement in 2013. During his time at CHS, he was involved in FFA, and was the winningest Ag-Mechanics coach in the State of Florida history, having won the top spot six times.
After his retirement, he enjoyed spending time at his vacation home in Franklin, North Carolina with his wife, and supporting his grandson in all of his school and sports activities.
Pace was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Linda Copeland Getzen, who passed away in 2021. He was also preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Gail Getzen and a brother-in-law, Jeff Copeland.
He is survived by his daughter, Mary Lynne (Greg) Davis and his grandson, Jarrett Dixon Davis, all of Newberry; by a brother, James “Jim” Getzen, of Nashville, Tenn.; a sister-in-law, Denise Copeland, of Gainesville, and a brother-in-law, Tommy (Ginger) Copeland, of Archer, along with several nieces and nephews.
Graveside funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 10:30 A. M. at the Newberry Cemetery, with Pastor Andy Cook, officiating. The family will receive friends on Monday, May 22, 2023, from 5 to 7:00 P. M., at the Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143rd Street, Newberry.
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