Franklin A. Nace Jr., of Hanover Township, Lehigh County, died February 27, 2025, after a short illness. Born in Palmerton, he was a son of the late Frank A. Nace Sr. and Wanda (Snyder) Nace Gaffney. He was the husband of Joyce A. (Nahf) Nace of 68 years.

He was a 1955 graduate of Tamaqua High School.

He was in the U.S. Air Force from November 1955 to October 1959, which included a tour in Okinawa.

He retired from Bethlehem Steel Corporation in June 2000 after 37 years of service as chief clerk in the Planning Administration & Technical Services Division, Homer Research Laboratories. He worked part-time for 12 years at Two Guys from Harrison, Whitehall.

He was a fast-pitch softball aficionado and played and/or coached in three leagues spanning four decades including the Bath Legion, Lehigh Valley League, from 1977-1991. He was the League Commissioner from 1976-1987 and was a PIAA and NCAA softball official for 20 years.

He was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame in 2019. He was included in the initial group placed on the Patriots Wall of Honor, Patriots Park. He was a member of Eckley E. Patch American Legion Post 470, Bath, and of the Allentown Patriots Athletic Association.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Mark A. of Dallas, Texas and Scott C. (Tracy) of Nazareth; two grandsons, Kevin Nace (Natalie) of Phoenixville and Ryan Hill of Bethlehem Township; a granddaughter: Rachel Green of Nazareth; and a brother, Mitchell (Linda) Nace of Lehighton.

He was predeceased by a son, Gregory; and a sister, Andrea.

Services: A visitation will be held from 6-7pm, Wednesday March 12, 2025 at the Connell Funeral Home, Inc., 245 East

Contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org and/or Forgotten Felines & Fidos, Inc., www.forgottenfelines.org

Arrangements were made by Connell Funeral Home Inc., Bethlehem.