Maj. Claud M. Payne, U. S. Army Ret.
December 4, 1919 - November 15, 2009
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Claud Maurice Payne passed away Sunday, November 15, 2009, at the Temple VA hospital. Services will be held at Scanio-Harper Chapel on Friday, November 20 at 1:00 p.m. with Minister Joe Baisden officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Bellwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 19, at the funeral home.
Claud was born December 4, 1919, in the Tennessee Valley community of Bell County. His parents were Carl D. Payne and Mary E. (Cox) Payne. He attended school at Tennessee Valley and then entered a CCC Camp at the age of 17. Just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served at Pearl Harbor, in the African and European campaigns and in the Middle East. While serving in post WWII Japan, he met and married his wife, Yukie in 1951. He also served in the Korean War where he participated in the Inchon landing.
In 1958, Claud was transferred to Fort Hood. He retired from the military in 1960 and went into the moving business and the meat business before becoming Bell County Executive Director for the American Red Cross. During this time, he served as a representative for the International Red Cross in Nigeria during the Biafran Civil War.
After his first coronary bypass surgery in 1971, Claud endeared himself to countless heart patients at Scott and White Hospital as a "Mended Hearts" volunteer. He continued to volunteer his time with Scott and White Hospital for 20 years.
Claud is survived by his wife of 58 years, Yukie Yoshinaka Payne of Temple; a daughter, Robin Payne of Baytown; a son and daughter-in-law, Claud W. and Sue Payne of Centennial, Colorado; and a daughter, Tina Blevins of Fort Worth. There are two grandchildren, Melanie Johnson of Fort Worth and Nicholas Payne of Centennial, Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Scott & White Development Office on behalf of the Scott & White Auxiliary or on behalf of Scott & White Hospice.
Family Members
Spouse
Yukie Yoshinaka Payne
1922–2010
