Robert Ray Payne

Robert “Bob” Payne of Leander, Texas died on January 12, 2015. Bob was born in Big Spring, Texas on 19 November 1938. His family moved to Pasadena, California, during World War II, returning to Texas where they lived in Midland, Quemado, Lake Jackson, and Bay City, where he joined the Navy in 1955, retiring in 1979 after a 25 year career. Mr. Payne served with honor in many foreign countries both at sea and ashore including a tour at Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crises and a combat tour with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. A much decorated veteran, Bob received 63 medals, ribbons, awards, decorations and Letter citations during his naval service. Bob married Edith Smith of Ijamsville, Maryland in 1962 and their son Walter was born at the Naval Academy, Annapolis. Their daughter, Maria was born in Montrose, Scotland.

The Payne family served tours of duty in Scotland, Hawaii, Guam, Jacksonville, Florida, and Washington, D.C.

Upon his retirement in 1979, Bob became the Manager of Facilities for MRI/Intel, later SAS Institute Inc. of Austin, Texas where he served for 23 years before retiring for the second, and final, time. He was active in community affairs, volunteering with the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the Temple, Texas and Cedar Park, Texas Veterans Affairs Offices. He sat on the Military Affairs Council of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and was active in the International Facilities Management Association and the Williamson County Republican Party.

Bob liked to hunt, play golf, and write in his spare time. He authored three books, including “Earhart’s Flight into Yesterday…” and wrote political essays, letters, poems and other stuff. Bob served as Editor of the Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association (NCVA) newsmagazine, CRYPTOLOG and edited the VA newsletter, REACHOUT and the award winning IFMA Journal.

Bob served as an officer in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and as a member of the Military Officers of America, the American Legion, The Fleet Reserve Association and the Disabled American Veterans organizations. He also found time to volunteer at the Williamson Museum in Georgetown, Texas and became a tour guide and docent at the Historic old Williamson County Courthouse. He also portrayed Robert McAlpin Williamson, who was known as “Three Legged Willie.” Bob was an accomplished public Speaker and much in demand as a Guest Speaker in the Central Texas area.

”Bob is survived by his wife, Edith and his son Walter, daughter Maria, grandson Robert and his three sisters, Zona Faye, Jackie, and Debbie, and a large, extended family, all of whom he loved deeply and completely.

Bob’s final request is that we all remember, “The Golden Rule Applies, in all things, at all times and in all places.”

Memorial Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, February 21st, at the Williamson County Courthouse on the 2nd floor. In lieu of flowers please donate blood if you are able, any blood-bank is fine. Donations can also be made to the Williamson County Museum for the Bob Payne Scholarship Fund.