Kip Carlton Brace

Kip Carlton Brace, 68, died peacefully at home in Oak Ridge, North Carolina on Friday, 29 November 2024. Kip was born in Thomasville Township, Davidson County, North Carolina on 22 February 1956, one of three children of New York native Carlton Charles Brace and Davidson County native Dorothy Lillian Davis. Since his parents divorced when Kip was age four, he was raised to adulthood by his mother Dorothy and stepfather, North Carolina native Ralph Waldo Spencer.

“Single” life: Moved from Forsyth to Guilford County. High Point Central Class of 1974. Kip was first employed on a path to reliability engineer manager at Gilbarco, where soon thereafter he met his future wife, South Carolina native Sharon Lynn Barker. They were to married in Charleston, South Carolina on April 15th, 1989.

Married life: Loving husband to Sharon and respected father to children Sarah, Jennifer, and Nicholas. Kip enjoyed spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and working on the house being a master repairman. His favorite local spot to camp and hike was Stone Mountain, which he had been camping at since he was a child. He was involved in Boy Scouts for many years and supported the development of young men like his son. Prior to Scouting, Kip was very involved in his civil duties by being an active member of the Oak Ridge Parks and Recreation Commission and helping build Oak Ridge Town Park. Kip retired from Gilbarco after 35 years of employment.

Character: He instilled hard work and perseverance in his children throughout his lifetime and was loved by neighbors and friends, who will miss him deeply.

In lieu of flowers, his family is asking for donations to either the SECU Family House in Chapel Hill, where he spent many weeks during radiation and doctors’ visits, or Living Water Baptist Church at 9516 W Market St, Colfax, NC 27235, where friends prayed for him and provided unlimited support to his family.