Payton Johnson Rowan

Payton was born on April 19, 1929 in El Dorado, Arkansas to Duff and Cynthia Rowan.

Payton served 23 years with the United States Army. He was in the Korean War in 1950 and served three tours in Vietnam where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and the Air Medal.

He retired from the Army in 1971 and joined his family in Red Bluff where he worked as a Guard for Diamond Plywood until 1980, the as a helicopter mechanic for Siller Brothers Logging Aviation out of Yuba City, California before retiring in 1988.

He enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing and gold mining and was a member of the Disabled Veterans.

Payton was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Johnnie Lee Rowan and son-in-law Steve Hakala, Sr. He is survived by son and daughter-in-law Dennis and Cynthia Rowan, daughter Kim Hakala; two step-grandchildren Steven Hakala, Jr and Amy Hakala Rohrer, her husband Andrew and two step-great grandchildren, Benjamin and Maxwell and his brother Clyde. He was preceded in death by his sister, Berta Jo, brothers J.D. and Buddy.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 10 am at Hilltop Baptist located at 585 Kimball Road in Redd Bluff, California, followed by a military Internment at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Per Payton's request there will be no reception.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at https://www.dav.org