Obituary of Willis Payne

Mr. Willis Charles Payne, 78, of 461 Piedmont St., Waterbury, and Palm Coast, FL, died Friday Oct. 26, 2007 at the Conn. Hospice in Branford, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Gertrude (Schumacher) Payne.Mr. Payne was born in Waterbury May 2, 1929, a son of the late Russell and Emily Helen (Schumacher) Payne and was a lifelong resident of this city. He was a graduate of Leavenworth High School and was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War serving as a Staff Sergeant in Fairbanks, Alaska. He spent over 54 years in Fence sales, first with Perfection Fence of Waterbury for over 16 years and later with Master Fence of Prospect. He was a communicant of St. Johns Episcopal Church, where he had been active on many of the committees at the church. He had served several terms on the Parish Vestry and had also served as Senior Warden and Junior Warden of the Church. He has also been Head Usher for many years. He was a member of the American Legion and the Circus Fans Association.Besides his wife of 54 years, he leaves one son, Gary C. Payne and his wife Lisa of Plainville; one brother, Stanley Payne and his wife Natalie of Waterbury; two sisters, Coral Whitney of Waterbury and Betty Quiberg and her husband Lad of Honolulu, Hawaii; 5 grandchildren, Christine Greggis and her husband Alan, Heidi Pane, Gary Payne, Whitney Nadolny, and Taylor Perry and one great-granddaughter, Alyssa Kylie, and many nieces and nephews.His funeral will be held on Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. from the Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury, 70 Central Ave. to St. Johns Episcopal Church for services at 10 a.m. Burial with full military honors will be in Grove Cemetery, Naugatuck. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to St. Johns Episcopal Church, 16 Church St., Waterbury, 06702.