Born
January 10, 1913
Unknown location

Died
December 14, 1971
Unknown location

Parents
John George Chace
Louise Kipp

Siblings
Robert James Chace

Spouse
Ruth Frances Knittel
Married September 17, 1938 in St. Phillip Neery RC Church, Bronx, New York

Children
Two living children

Life Story

George Frederick Chace was born January 10, 1913 in Flushing (Queens), New York to George Chace and Louisa Kipp. His father was born in the United States, while his mother was born in Germany and became a naturalized citizen in 1915. He had one younger brother, Robert James, born December 8, 1918.

George completed three years of high school before going to work as a bank teller with the Manhattan Bank. In September 1938 he married Ruth Frances Knittel at St. Philip Roman Catholic Church in the Bronx, NY. Shortly after they were married, he was enlisted to serve in the army, and the army sent he and Ruth to Aberdeen, Maryland and then Jacksonville Florida until 1939. At that time he received orders for overseas duty in England, France and eventually Germany. He worked with the 9th Air Force as a specialist in booby traps, bombs and ordnance. During this time his wife lived with her mother until her mother's death in early 1941, then with her aunt and cousin.

George returned from the war in 1945. In August 1946 their first child, Thomas Robert was born. In November 1948 during the housing boom, he and Ruth purchased their first home in Whitestone, Queens. Living with them in order to save money and to share expenses were his parents and his brother. George and Ruth's second child, Dorothy was born in September 1949. The house was a two bedroom Cape Cod bungalow that they expanded by adding two rooms in the attic. Their goal was to save money to buy a car, and eventually in the 1950's they purchased a Chevy sedan they called "Bucky" from an army buddy.

George's mother Louise died at age 58 in November 1954. His father, who was an insurance salesman, continued to live with them until his death on September 9, 1968. Three years later, George died abruptly of a heart attack on December 15, 1971 at the age of 58. George's brother Robert, a lineman for the New York Telephone Company, lived another 16 years. He died on October 13, 1987 at the age of 78.

Seeking Information

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Updated 11/20/14