Birth: Nov. 19, 1909
Greenville
Hunt County
Texas, USA
Death: Aug. 16, 2009
Dallas
Dallas County
Texas, USA
William A. Payne, age 99 of Dallas, TX, was born November 19, 1909, in Greenville, TX, to Rev. Oscar C. and Mittie (Baker) Payne. He passed away August 16, 2009, at Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, TX, and will be laid to rest in Rockwall, TX. Mr. Payne graduated from Baylor University in 1931, where he met his college sweetheart, Margaret Wilkerson. They married in 1932, and shared 71 yearsof loving marriage until her death in 2004. Mr. Payne began his newspaper career in college. Following graduation he worked about eight years for the Dallas Dispatch. With great pride he served his country during WWII, stationed close to Dover, England with the 127th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion, whose mission was to destroy the German V1 flying bomb targeting London during the war. Upon returning to the states, Mr. Payne began a career with the Dallas Morning News that continued for almost 30 years. He was assistant city editor and then was named amusement editor, a position he held for17 years until his retirement in 1974. As amusement editor, he was fortunate to travel the U.S. and Europe to movie premiers where he met and interviewed many well-known actors and actresses. Mr. Payne was a life long church member. At the time of his death he was a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Payne is survived by a son: Dr. William A. Payne, Jr. & wife Sandra of Santa Rosa, CA; daughter: Betty Long & husband Bill of Farmers Branch, TX; grandchildren: Bill Long, Jr. of Carrollton, TX, Chuck Payne of California, Gail Payne-Mann & husband Rob of Alameda, CA; and two great grandsons. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife: Margaret Payne; brother: Oscar C. Payne; and sister: Mittie Elizabeth Fish. Memorial services will be held in the library of Presbyterian Village North, 8600 Skyline Drive (off Forest Lane), Dallas, TX, on Saturday, August 22nd at 1:pm, with reception following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Presbyterian Village North Foundation, 8600 Skyline Drive, Dallas, TX 75243. Source: Dallas Morning News.
Family links:
Parents:
Oscar Columbus Payne (1881 - 1941)
Mittie Royall Baker Payne (1881 - 1931)
Spouse:
Margaret Frances Wilkerson Payne (1909 - 2004)
Burial:
Rockwall Memorial Cemetery
Rockwall
Rockwall County
Texas, USA
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Created by: William R. Long
Record added: Aug 23, 2009
Find A Grave Memorial# 41031428
