Lucile Vaughan Payne and William Kenneth Payne died three weeks apart on May 7 and May 28, 2001 respectively, in Santa Rosa, California.
Mrs. Payne had suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for more than two decades and died of pneumonia.
Mr. Payne’s death was due to complications of lung cancer.
Both were interred at Santa Rosa Memorial Cemetery.
Born in Indiana, the couple had lived in Santa Rosa since 1985.
Granted a scholarship at age 16, Mrs. Payne attended Indiana State Teachers College (now Indiana State University) in Terre Haute, where she edited the school newspaper, vigorously condemning racism and the comprehensive examination system, and sparking discussion of other issues of the time.
Mr. Payne had attempted to become a professional stage actor, arriving in New York with 25 cents in his pocket, and leaving with not much more. He returned home and enrolled in college where he sang in the chorus, portrayed leading roles in plays (Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and others) and studied English and journalism.
The couple met during rehearsal for a “theatrical stunt,” and were married in 1939. Mr. Payne served as a radio operator with a combat infantry unit in Europe during World War II, fighting in Belgium and France, where he witnessed the liberation of Paris. Mrs. Payne had joined the WAAC, but was discharged when her physical revealed that she was pregnant with daughter Meredith, who was born in 1943.
During the war Mrs. Payne published several short stories, subsequently editing The Indiana Teacher, the journal of the Indiana State Teachers Association, a high point of which was interviewing Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as other notables.
After his return from the war, Mr. Payne worked in public relations for the Indiana State Board of Health, and in 1946 daughter Julie was born.
During the family’s remaining time in Indiana Ken edited two newspapers, one in Lafayette and one in Nashville. In 1954 the family moved from Indiana to Oregon, camping and singing as they drove along the original Oregon Trail, and settling finally in Sweet Home.
Mr. Payne served as editor of The New Era, a weekly newspaper in Sweet Home, for the first year, and then taught English, drama, speech and journalism at Sweet Home Union High School; he also directed plays and at various times oversaw the school’s yearbook and newspaper.
Mrs. Payne continued to write short stories for Seventeen, Redbook, and other popular magazines, and occasionally contributed humorous items to The New Era. She taught for one year at Sweet Home Junior High School, where she was notable not only for her classes, but also for the fact that she wore tennis shoes. Both Paynes were avid Democrats, actively participating in local and regional politics.
Moving the family to Eugene in 1960, Mr. Payne pursued his Master’s Degree in journalism at the University of Oregon, then taught until his retirement in 1976, first at North Eugene High School and later at Sheldon High School, where he was chairman of the English department.
He regularly appeared as an actor and singer in the lively local theater scene. Mrs. Payne taught briefly at South Eugene High School and the University of Oregon and wrote occasional theater reviews for the Eugene Register-Guard.
In 1965 an anthology of her short stories, The Boy Upstairs, was published. She lectured on writing and won several awards as editor of Old Oregon, the alumni magazine for the University, between 1966 and 1969.
During the 1970’s Mrs. Payne’s series of three high school textbooks collectively known as The Lively Art of Writing was published. The centerpiece book by the same name is still available and continues to be used in schools across the country.
In 1970 the Paynes built a home on a 20-acre plot in the woods near Brownsville, Oregon where they lived before returning to Eugene in 1979; in 1985 they settled in Santa Rosa, California.
The couple was buried side by side at Santa Rosa Memorial Cemetery.
They are survived by their daughters, Meredith Payne Schwirtz of Santa Rosa, and Julie Payne Reicheg of Studio City, California and their grandchildren Mira Schwirtz of Oakland, California and David Payne-Schwirtz of Berkeley, California.
Mrs. Payne is also survived by a sister, Helen Murphey, and a brother, Paul Vaughan, both of Michigan. Mr. Payne is also survived by a sister, Dora Parks, of Indiana.