Wanda Lou Hoad Payne

VICTORIA - On October 16, 2015, Wanda Lou Hoad Payne, 81, died peacefully at home on the ranch where she and her husband, Ralph, have lived for fifty years. Wanda was born July 27, 1934, near Paris, Texas, to Dannie Andrew Hoad and Ruby Oleta Vinson Hoad. She spent her early childhood in the Rio Grande Valley, and moved with her family to Victoria in 1949.

Wanda was a beloved wife and mother, renowned genealogist, consummate ranch woman, and profoundly spiritual Christian. She shared her faith and her passion for the outdoors with family, friends and strangers, who were never strangers for long.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Peggy Jo Hoad Littlefield. She is survived by her husband of sixty-two years, Ralph Allen Payne, daughter, Roxana Lee Payne Lecocke (husband Carl Anthony Lecocke) of Corpus Christi, son Mark Allen Payne (wife Marsha McGowen Payne) of Victoria, grandchildren Joseph Allen Payne (wife Andria Rodgers Payne), Bonnie Diane Payne, Robert Anthony Lecocke and great-grandchildren Ashton Marshall Payne, Tre Michael Payne, Taylor Marie Smith, and Cullen Ray Dobecka. She is survived by brothers Danny Ray Hoad (wife Joy Estelle Sutter Hoad), Robert Dean Hoad and William Gene Hoad, all of Victoria.

Visitation will be Tuesday, October 20, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Colonial Funeral Home, 1801 E. Red River St., Victoria, Texas. At her request, her life will be celebrated informally (“come like you were dropping by to have coffee with me”) on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home Chapel with Kenneth Price, Ralph and Wanda’s dearest friend of 45 years, officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Joseph Payne, Robert Lecocke, David Hoad, Bryan Hoad, Justin Heinold and Jason Heinold.

The family wishes to thank Wanda and Ralph’s loving caregiver, Mary DeLeon, and the wonderful staff of Hospice of South Texas, especially Eva Lopez and Jo Beth Whitlow.

Words of comfort may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com