Arnold Everett Chace

August 18, 1928 – December 7, 2018

Arnold “Whitey” Everett Chace, age 90, formerly from Englewood, CO, passed away on Friday, December 7, 2018, at the Valley Manor Memory Care Community.

He was born in Littleton, NH, and eventually moved into a three-bedroom house in Ocean Grove, MA, where he grew up with his sister and five younger brothers. As the oldest of seven children, he took on the role of a caregiver, always looking out for his “favorite sister” Norma. His trait of providing for others carried on throughout his life with his family, co-workers, friends and acquaintances.

While attending Gardner School, he was selected to help plant a tree in the front lawn to celebrate Arbor Day. He took a trip back to his hometown in 2017 and was surprised to see that same tree standing at 50’ tall. He attended Joseph Case High School in Swansea, MA, and graduated with honors in 1948.

Growing up, Whitey was always a hard worker and did various odd jobs to save up money, like trapping muskrats for $1 each, digging for clams, and working at the local bowling alley as a ‘pin setter’. In high school, he worked as a supervisor at the Standard Coil factory, the same place where a brown-eyed girl named Dorothy worked. His job was to ‘inspect her zippers’. Dorothy invited him to her Jr. Prom in Warren, RI, and that was the beginning of a lifelong relationship.

Whitey served in the US Air Force from 1948-1951. During the Korean War, he received an honorable recognition for aiding in the rescue of his crewmates. While in the service, Arnold wrote to Dorothy every single day. Arnold married his brown-eyed girl, Dorothy Alida Hartmann, on May 1, 1952, and has celebrated 64 years of marriage. He moved to Englewood, CO, in 1961 where he raised his family of two boys and three girls. Later in life, he was the guardian parent of two of his grandchildren, Sara and Kayne.

In his professional career, Whitey was a dedicated and thorough Electrical & Mechanical Engineer for Martin Marietta who supported NASA, DoD, and classified Programs in stellar fashion.  He was a highly respected and sought-after individual that didn’t get the credit for everything he did, but then he didn’t really want it as he would rather see and help others succeed.

Whitey loved to fish, make puzzles, work on home improvements, play Black Jack at casinos, eat Oreo cookies, watch John Wayne movies, and make $1 bets against the Broncos with his friend Gayle. He continued to keep in touch with his favorite sister and was able to hear her voice one last time as she sang to him over the phone.

Those who knew Whitey will remember him as a good man. He had a smile that would light up any room and a quick wit. He always said that you have to keep humor in life! He was a one-of-a-kind man that will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Whitey is survived by his daughters Karen (Ken) Wood, Karyl (Kevin) Dimmick, Karla Chace; son Kevin Chace; granddaughter Sara Chace; grandsons Liberty Wood, Chris (Miranda) Wood, Kelby (Bonnie) Dimmick, and Korbin Dimmick; great-grandchildren Madison, Benjamin and Emilee Wood, Destinee and Tylor Wood, and Elise Dimmick; sister Norma Mayes; and brothers Russell (Pat) Chace, Gene (Lillian) Chace, Robert (Carol) Chace, and John Chace. There are many other family members and friends who will remember Whitey as well.

He is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Pearl Chace, brother Garvin Chace, son Keith Chace, grandson Kayne Chace and wife Dorothy Chace.

Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory in Montrose is assisting the family with arrangements. A memorial service is planned for both Whitey and Dorothy Chace on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 10:00am at the Centennial Lutheran Church in Englewood, CO. Internment will take place for them at the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO.

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to all of the people at The Homestead and The Valley Manor Memory Care Community and HopeWest Hospice for the love you gave Whitey while he was in your care.