Richard Dennis Payne

Richard Dennis Payne, age 75 of Alexandria, Virginia—a native Californian and devoted husband, father, and grandfather—passed away on November 2, 2026, in Falls Church, Virginia, surrounded by his family.

Born on June 3, 1951, in Lynwood, California, to John and Thelma Payne, Rick spent much of his life enjoying the outdoors. He could regularly be found at the beach, swimming in the rivers of Yosemite National Park, or fishing at Lake Crowley and Lake Arrowhead. In his later years, he especially enjoyed barbecuing chicken, sharing red wine, and enjoying cigars with friends and family. He could almost invariably be seen wearing a University of Southern California baseball cap.

Amongst his many escapades, perhaps the most consequential was the one that brought him together with his wife, Wendy. Rick and his lifelong friend Tim decided to drive Tim’s Datsun 240Z at full speed over the exit spikes of a closed Bolsa Chica State Beach parking lot. The car went airborne, landing in the sand beside a bonfire where his future wife was standing. Wendy was not initially impressed, but Rick’s strong yet quiet charm, along with his friends’ persistence, eventually won her over. They married in 1979.

Rick joined the Monterey Park Police Department in 1974, beginning a distinguished career in law enforcement that would see him rise through the ranks and ultimately retire as a lieutenant and head of the Detective Bureau. During the early 1980s, he served as a pilot in the department’s pioneering effort to use ultralight aircraft in law enforcement, a remarkable chapter in aviation history commemorated in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s collection.

Rick was awarded the Medal of Valor in 1992 for his heroism at a house engulfed in flames. Arriving before the fire department, Rick instinctively rushed into the collapsing structure, rescuing the family trapped inside.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife, Wendy Darling Payne; his sons, Scott (known as Kip) and Mark; his daughters-in-law, Liz and Rachel; and his three cherished grandchildren, Adaline, Will, and Polly, all of whom loved and adored him. A fourth grandchild is on the way.

He will be profoundly missed by friends and family on both coasts and across the country and remembered for a life filled with adventure, courage, and love.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 1:00pm at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington Street, Alexandria, Va 22314.