William "Bill" Brace, 98, died Monday, January 16, 2023 at his home in rural Auburn, IN.  He was born in Garrett, IN on December 28, 1924 to the late Fordyce C. & Ethel V. (Hinkley) Brace.  He married Donna L. Yoder on May 21, 1948 and she preceded him in death on May 15, 2017.

Surviving are his children:  Suzanne (Robert) Carpenter of Auburn, Diane (Charles) Barrington of South Bend, Colleen (James) Conrad of Huntertown, Kurt Brace of Ocean Springs, MS, Ramona (Tim) Brindle of Auburn, Julie Brace Hissong of Auburn, Linda Wallace (Rick Smith) of Ft. Myers Beach, FL, Nathan (Brandi) Brace of Evans, GA; 24 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 9 great great grandchildren; and a sister, Ruth Liechty of Ft. Wayne.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon R. Smith; brothers, Dale J. Brace & John E. Brace; and a brother-in-law, Paul "Dick" Liechty.

He lived a life of a by-gone era. He grew up during the hard times of the Great Depression, attending a one room schoolhouse in Hopewell, IN.  A long walk to school, he'd check his trap lines and then place his shotgun alongside the other students' rifles in the corner of the classroom.  Recess was for students only. "What happened on the playground, stayed on the playground" he used to say.  Bill joined the Navy during WWII to escape the monotony of the farm.  He attended military officers' training at Purdue University and was transferred to Duke University.  He excelled as a member of the boxing team in college.  While stationed in San Francisco Bay, he survived a sinking wooden ship that had caught on fire by swimming to shore.  Never seeing any combat overseas, he humbly declined all honor flight invitations to Washington DC because he felt the honor belonged to others.  He met his wife, Donna, at the old Silver Moon Skating Rink in Waterloo and they were married for 69 years.  Dad insisted we quote him as saying, "I don't care if Indiana University beats Purdue University or if Purdue University beats Indiana University, or if they even play the game".

Calling will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 from 11 am - 1 pm at Hopewell United Brethren Church (6852 CR 35 Auburn, IN).  A Celebration of Life will follow at 1 pm at the church with Pastor Charles Barrington officiating.  Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Auburn, IN.

Memorials may be directed to ProMedica (Heartland) Hospice - 2720 Dupont Commerce Court #210 Ft. Wayne, IN  46825.