Don Howard Payne's Obituary
On July 15, 2016 the world lost a great man. Major General Don H. Payne, USAF (ret.) passed away from complications of a heart attack worsened by Parkinson’s disease. He was a husband to a loving wife, a father and hero to three adoring children, a patriotic military officer for a country he loved, a friend to many and a child of God. Gen. Payne was a highly-decorated fighter pilot and veteran of four wars; World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and as a Cold Warrior helped to protect our nation. During his career, Gen. Payne was stationed from Florida to Virginia to Arizona to Hawaii and from Germany to Taiwan which included strategic planning at the Pentagon. He studied at West Point, A&M, SMU and the Army War College. He was a combat pilot in Korea, a fighter gunnery instructor, a staff officer, an executive officer, an instrument flying instructor, a foreign military advisor, an operations commander for a fighter wing in Vietnam, the commander of the largest fighter wing in the US Air Force, the commander for operations and intelligence for the Pacific Air Force, and the commander for the largest technical training center in the Air Force. He finished 37 years of service with 4,800 hours in fighter aircraft and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, 13 Air Medals, as well as numerous other awards. He retired in 1982 as a Major General. Gen Payne always considered Dallas home. He lived his entire childhood in Garland, graduating from Garland High School in 1944. He returned from his military career in 1982. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Garland, was involved with the Garland Summer Musicals, was a member of the Garland Hall of Fame and enjoyed participating in a dance club as long as he was able. General Payne’s parents, Harry Tillman and Gladys Payne, owned and operated the Payne Drug Store on the square in downtown Garland. Don is survived by Elsie Marie (Bachman) Payne, his childhood sweetheart and wife of 66 years; daughter Victoria Clary of Ft. Worth, TX; son Don Jr and wife Pam of Sunnyvale, TX; son Robert and wife Rebecca of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren Clifton and wife Bernadette Clary; Christina and husband Ryan Woodall; Caitlin and husband Hayden McIntyre; Christian Payne; Cotton Payne; Cash Payne; Devin DeLeon; and Brandon DeLeon and many other relatives and friends. Memorials may go to Parkinson’s charities. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 11 AM in the Memorial Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, receiving friends one hour prior to the service at 10 AM, a burial will follow the funeral service. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted into Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243.
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