Walter (Walt) Rodman Payne III

Posted on January 19, 2018

Walter (Walt) Rodman Payne III, 78, of Perry died peacefully Friday, Jan. 12, 2018.

Born Jan. 11, 1940, he was the son of Lucy Margaret Heath and Walter Rodman Payne Jr.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Payne was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he served as a medic, and the U.S. Army, where he served as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He was a member of the Florida National Guard where he also flew helicopters, ultimately achieving the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 before retiring.

He served the State of Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services as the forest ranger at Cabbage Grove for 21 years. He was known in the community for his support of those in the Cabbage Grove area, his appearances as Smokey Bear and as a member of the Perry-Foley Airport Advisory Committee.

He was a much beloved husband, father and grandfather to his family.

Mr. Payne is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Wilma Joan (Arnold) Payne; siblings, Mary Beth Weaver of Winchester, Ala., and Timothy Payne of Ocala; son, Walter R. Payne IV of Perry; daughters, Pandora A. Padgett of Perry and Candance S. (Scott) Towsley of Hope, Ind.; grandchildren, Alexandria A. Padgett, Amanda Padgett Gilbert, Sarah G. Towsley and Rissa J. Towsley; and great grandchildren, Andrea F. Watson and Roland L. Watson; as well as a host of nieces and nephews, including nephew Roger E. Robinson and wife Lisa (Massingale) Robinson of Perry. He was preceded in death by: his parents; sisters, Carol Robinson of Belleview and Alice Overton of Alabama; and son-in-law, Jimmy Ray Padgett, of Perry.

Per his wishes, there will not be a memorial ceremony. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Blinded Veterans Association (bva.org).