Sophia M. Payton

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Sophia was the daughter of Leon and Ethel Peters. On the day she graduated from high school, she rode her bicycle to Norton Field and took her first flying lesson at age 17. From that day forward, aviation became her lifelong passion.

Sophia went on to own and fly numerous airplanes and gliders, performing in air shows and competing in more than 80 cross-country air races beginning in 1946. In her first race, held in Newark, Ohio, she and her twin sister, Irene, who served as her co-pilot, were the only women entered and earned a second-place finish. She went on to achieve countless top-five finishes in the All-Woman Transcontinental Air Race (the Powder Puff Derby), the Angel Derby, and numerous regional competitions. Her crowning achievements included winning the reenactment of the first 1929 Air Derby and winning the Air Race Classic an unprecedented four times, taking her nieces as passengers for two of those victories. Despite her many accomplishments, one of her fondest memories was being crowned, with her twin sister Irene, as the Pilot Queens of the Ohio Air Tour in 1949.

Throughout her distinguished aviation career, Sophia received the FAA Master Pilot Award and numerous pilot proficiency awards. She held a variety of positions in aviation, including charter pilot, aircraft salesperson, ARTC simulator aircraft operator, and aviation company manager.

Sophia was a lifetime member of the Ninety-Nines, the international organization dedicated to supporting women pilots through networking, mentoring, and flight scholarships. She served as co-chair of the first Indiana Fair Ladies Air Race and helped establish the first Greater Pittsburgh Air Race. She was also a lifetime member of the International Women’s Air & Space Museum, Flying Octogenarians, Silver Wings Fraternity, Florida Grasshoppers, Soaring Eagles, and the Sports Car Club of America.

Sophia met the love of her life, Neal Payton, at Norton Field after his return from military service in Europe during World War II. Neal proposed to “Soph” while flying a Stearman upside down in inverted flight. The couple was married on the Bride and Groom radio program in Santa Barbara, California, on November 18, 1949. Neal went on to enjoy a distinguished career as a commercial airline pilot, ultimately retiring as a captain with USAir after logging more than 31,000 flight hours.

Soph and Neal shared 41 years of marriage until Neal’s passing on December 13, 1990. Together, they shared their love, generosity, and adventurous spirit with their family, hosting countless vacations and celebrations. Sophia, affectionately known as “Sunshine,” “Twin Mom,” and “Aunt Grandma,” was famous for giving everyone their first airplane ride, planning unforgettable events, and looking for the action!

Sophia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Neal Payton; her twin sister, Irene Cochoff; her sister, Ethel Kesterson; her brother, Leon Peters; and her niece, Amy Thomas.

Sophia is survived by the children of her twin sister, Irene: Victor Jay Cochoff (Debbie), Steve Cochoff (Gail), and Janet Cochoff Pressel (Michael); and by the children of her brother, Leon: Melinda Todaro (Frank), Chris Peters (Dan Cohee), Patty Peters, Andy Peters (Leni), Robbie Cameruca, and Karen Ellison (Steve), as well as many great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews.

Sophia will be laid to rest at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, Largo, Florida, in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Amelia Earhart Scholarship Fund through the Ninety-Nines in honor of Sophia and her lifelong commitment to aviation and supporting women pilots.