Walter Lee Payne

Walter Lee Payne, 78, of Vandalia, IL passed away on Sunday, February 04, 2024, at 9:10 a.m. at his residence.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro, IL.  Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor PeeWee Denton, New Horizon Church in St. Elmo, IL, officiating.  Burial will be in Cress Hill Cemetery in Hillsboro, IL.

Mr. Payne was born on January 29, 1946 in Hillsboro, IL, to the late Hugh O. and Elizabeth (Chervanek) Payne.  He attended Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, IL and had worked as a Laborer at ASARCO Smelter in Taylor Springs, IL, for 41 years, before retiring. He married Novella Caulk, on September 14, 1972, in Hillsboro, IL and she survives.  Mr. Payne was of the Baptist Faith.  His family and work were most important to him.  He loved spending time with family, especially with his grandbabies, and he also enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and flower & vegetable gardening.  

Mr. Payne is survived by his wife, Novella Payne; children, Ronald (wife, Debbie) Payne, Susan (husband, James) Arnold, Michelle (husband, Van) Gardner, Michael (wife, Stacy) Payne, Elizabeth (husband, Steven) Knepper, Ramsey Payne and April (husband, Kenny) Gates; nineteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren and siblings, Harvey “Coke” (wife, Kay) Payne, Shirley “Pat” (husband, Joe) Page, Minnie (husband, Paul) Keller and Linda (husband, Elmer) Witt.  Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Barbara “Peggy” Gurley, Buck Payne, Tony Payne and Charles Payne.

Memorials are suggested to St. Jude.

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