- Date Of Birth: April 6, 1929
- Date Of Death: January 5, 2021
- State: Florida
Arnold “Ace” Carlton Tidwell, 91, of Tallahassee, passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Born in Freeport, Florida, on April 6, 1929, he was a son of the late Cleveland Matthew and Carrie Annie Griffith Tidwell.
He is also preceded in death by his wife June Allen Tidwell; and siblings, Hazel Tidwell Rachels, Louise Tidwell Peters and Glen Joseph Tidwell. He faithfully served his country in the United States Air Force, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant with an honorable discharge on July 8, 1952. Following his military service, he attended the 13th Florida Highway Patrol Recruit Class and went to work and retired from the Florida Highway Patrol as a Highway Patrolman, hitchhiking to his first assignment from Gaskin, Florida to Orlando, Florida, and later was assigned as a pilot, flying Bud Dickinson, Comptroller, and members of the Florida Cabinet, as well as Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr. It was from Governor Kirk the he earned the nickname “Ace”. After retiring from FHP, Ace opened Ace Flying School in Tallahassee, Florida. It was an international flight training program, teaching students from all over the world. Ace was an FAA examiner and even flunked a famous singer. He never visited Margarita ville after that. After retiring from flight training, he joined the “party patrol” and enjoyed traveling, fishing and a most beautiful view of Lake Talquin. Ace was a big country music fan and managed the “family band” knows as the Moonlighters. He wife sang, his son Chuck played lead guitar, and daughter Susan would often sing and play. Ace was very proud of his son Chuck’s artistic and musical talents. He and daughter Susan were always “best buddies.”
Survivors include his children, Susan Bryant (Tedd) and Chuck Tidwell (Becky); grandchildren, Taylor Tidwell, Dustin Tidwell, Sherry Neal (Matt), Fred Willis (Kelly), Lance Willis (Jenny), Buck Bowen (Miranda), Mindy Harrison (Travis), Carlee Willis (John), Tedd Bryant, Hollie Bryant and Ben Bryant (Jaimie); great-grandchildren, Logan Bowen, Carson Hurst, Shelbie Jordan, Jodi Lopez, Taylor Bryant, Savannah Bryant, Andrew Willis, Amelia Willis, Alyssa Harrison, Wyatt Harrison, Hunter Neal, Alleyna Neal, Connor Willis, Annie Willis, Amber Thady, Valerie Sato and Jason Sedillo; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
