Richard is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joan Wilson Payne; their children: Linda (William) Mason, Stephen (Kathy) Payne, Andrew (Joanne Gamble) Payne and Molly (John Piga) Payne. Also his grandchildren: Jeremy (Julie Walden-Payne) Payne, Brandon (Rachel) Payne, Kaitlyn (JT White) Payne, and Matteo and Nicolo Piga, and his great-grandchildren: Tucker and Brooke Payne.
Richard was born in Boston, Massachusetts in February of 1933, son to the late William James and Alice Bufford Payne, and brother of the late Elizabeth Loring Carolan. Richard earned his B.A. degree at Williams College; his Master of Divinity degree, Cum Laude at the Episcopal Theological Seminary, and his Master of Education degree in Counseling Psychology at Boston College. Richard was ordained to the Priesthood of the Episcopal Church in December of 1957 and began his ministry at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Canyon City, Oregon. After three years in the wilds of Eastern Oregon, which he dearly loved, Richard became the Assistant Chaplain and Teacher at Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
Four years later, his Bishop and dear friend, Lane Wickham Barton, called him back to Eastern Oregon where he served as Rector of the Church of the Redeemer in Pendleton until 1970. Richard and Joan and all four children then moved to their beloved Cape Cod and Richard became the Staff Psychologist at the S. L. French Youth Forestry Camp in Brewster. He served there as a part time consultant for several years but began his work at the Nauset Middle School, Orleans, Ma. as the School Psychologist in 1971 and continued in that position until his first retirement in 1998. At his retirement party, two dear friends and former colleagues at the Middle School cornered him and said they needed psychological help at the Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School. Three days later, Richard was hired on a part time basis and served at the Charter School for 10 wonderful years until his fuller retirement in 2008.
In addition to his school work, for some 45 years, Richard helped out as an Episcopal Priest, whenever needed, at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Orleans and as the Chaplain for neighbors “on the road”. From 1982-1985, Richard served as a part time Vicar of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in East Haddam, Connecticut. During this period, Richard worked 3-4 days per week at the middle school and 2-3 days per week at St. Stephen’s.
Richard was very proud of his Brewster heritage dating back to 1620. He spent every Summer of his life literally immersed in Cape Cod Bay. For some 70 years he could be seen, almost daily, sailing his Beetle catboat, digging sea worms, gathering sea clams or trolling over the flats, with tube and worms, for Stripers. Richard, with his wife, Joan, were avid adventurers and campers: moving twice to Eastern Oregon for a total of nine years; traveling in a truck and fifth-wheel to Alaska; many trips to visit their son, Stephen in Wyoming; 13 years in their motor home to the Stillwell Ranch bordering Big Bend National Park in SW Texas; and many more years camping and fishing off the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico in the Panhandle of Florida.
Richard had a deep love and found great joy in his family, in his work with children, teachers and parents, and in the love and grace of his Lord.
If you would like to make a donation, please send a check to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church at P.O. Box 464 East Haddam, CT 06423 or go online to https://www.ststeves.org/give/.
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