Jim Payne, 79, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on February 21, 2018 in Lancaster, PA after an illness of several years. The son of Mildred and Johnson Payne, he was raised in Pocomoke City, MD. He attended Johns Hopkins University on a senatorial scholarship, where he earned an engineering degree in business and industrial management. While at Hopkins he was co-captain of the varsity soccer team, chairman of the honor commission, vice-president of Delta Upsilon fraternity and a recipient of the ODK national leadership award. He also ran the hot-dog concession during sporting events to help finance his education. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for eight years with six months' active duty in Ft. Jackson, SC, achieving the rank of SGT E5 in the Infantry.

Jim spent 30 years with DuPont, holding many interesting assignments: Business Research Analyst; Manufacturing Superintendent in Towanda, PA; Mid-Atlantic Regional Marketing Manager; Plant Manager in Newtown, CT and Glasgow, DE; Vice President of Endo Laboratories; and Quality Management Director for Health Care Business. He served on the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County, CT United Way and was on the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of DE where he received several national awards. After retiring, Jim served as head deacon of the Sanibel, FL Congregational Church. He sang in church choirs for over 50 years and with the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus and its small Chamber Chorus. He enjoyed boating, golf and tennis throughout his life.

Jim is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Mary Susan Whiteley; his children Sarah Waterland, James Payne Jr. and his wife Heather, and Elizabeth Tsukada and her husband Thomas; eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. His two brothers and a grandson preceded him in death.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 12, 2018 at The Willow Street United Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim's memory to The Alzheimer's Association, 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA 17110.