Laverne Payne

LaVerne E. Payne age 73, of Millcreek, lost his ongoing fight with diabetes on Friday, January 20, 2017, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center - Erie, and he was honored with a Final Salute. His body was draped with a U.S. Army quilt and later with the American Flag. He loved his country and his friends and family. He is remembered fondly by his wife, his children, and his grandchildren.

He was born on February 27, 1943, in Platea, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late LaVerne Edward and Margaret Elizabeth Downer Payne.

He grew up working very hard on the family farm with his six siblings, and he graduated from Northwestern High School in 1961. LaVerne married his sweetheart, Linda Margaret Stitzinger, on June 18, 1966. A short time later he was drafted and served in the U.S. Army artillery in Vietnam from February 1967 to February 1968 as a truck driver. He retired from the the U.S. Army Reserves after 20 years’ service.

LaVerne was employed by the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier in Lake City, Pennsylvania, beginning in February 1969. He worked as a Postmaster in Centerville, Clarks Mills, and Springboro. He truly enjoyed becoming part of each community as a Postmaster, and he retired from McKean, Pennsylvania, in April 2001. In his free time, he also served Millcreek Schools as a custodian, worked as a pizza driver, did construction, removed trees, kept his family busy collecting firewood and managing the Erie Morning News paper route. LaVerne almost always had a second job because he loved to work!

He was always a farmer at heart. Watching crops grow or even enjoying the beauty of flowers or fruit trees brought him great satisfaction. His family remembers him on a tractor, plowing fields, baling hay, feeding the cows, or putting in fence posts---they worked with him to accomplish his goals on the farm.

In his retirement (while never slowing down), he enjoyed attending auctions, collecting antiques (especially milk bottles), and buying and selling toys, antique cars, tractors, and golf carts. He was always looking for a good deal! Traveling throughout the United States with his wife and family also brought him great joy. The couple loved spending their winters in Winter Haven, Florida. LaVerne involved his wife, children and grandchildren in his hobbies and interests. He always wanted to participate and attend parades and fairs-especially the Albion Fair, a fair he had been part of since he was a young boy.

LaVerne enjoyed people and having conversations about many topics. He was a member of NARFE. He was also a member with his wife of the Erie Model A Club, the Keystone Model A Club, and the Sons of Britain Car Club. He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Lake Erie Lodge #347 F. &. A. M., and Asbury United Methodist Church.

LaVerne and Linda were blessed to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary on June 18, 2016 surrounded by friends and family who adore them.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Larry Edward Payne and a brother, Lee Edward Payne.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Linda Stitzinger Payne; four children, Lisbeth (Jeff) Sanders of Ohio, LeAnne (Scott) Morton of Erie, LaVerne Edmund Payne (Lynne) of Illinois, and Lance Evan Payne (Christi) of Kentucky; ten grandchildren, Melissa and David Sanders, Amelia and Nicholas Morton, Lindsey, Lyle, Logan and Lillian Payne, and Leviticus and Courtney Payne; four sisters, Jane Payne, PhD, of Forida, LaRue Pettibone, of Idaho, Ruth Rankin, of Florida and Wilma Sabol, of Florida; and a brother, Lynn Payne of Idaho, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home 3801 W. 26th Street (at Powell Ave) on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. and are invited to attend a service there on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Bruce Davis officiating. Burial to follow in Laurel Hill Cemetery with Full Military Honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Albion Fair Association youth programs and a new park bench, 30 Academy Street, Albion, PA 16401, Future Farmers of America at Northwestern High School 100 Harthan Way, Albion, PA 16401, or to the Maple Syrup Museum 11424 Fry Road, Edinboro, Pa 16412.