Walter Reid Payne, 77 years old of Flint Hill, Virginia, passed away peacefully on June 3, 2015, surrounded by his family.

Mr. Payne was a life-long resident of Rappahannock County born at home to the late Luther and Rosa Lee (Clark) Payne on September 30, 1937.

Mr. Payne served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959. He was a Private 1st Class and was stationed in Germany. After his military service he worked for the Rappahannock County School System as a bus driver and mechanic, a job he loved for 32 years until his retirement in 2000. He also helped his father at Payne’s Garage which was the family business. Not one to sit idle he started his own lawn care business which continued until his passing. He also in his spare time was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping.

He is survived by his daughter Patricia Ann Thompson and one grandson Ian Preston Reid Thompson both of Front Royal; one sister Dorothy Ann Clater (Randolph) of Sperryville; two brothers William L. “Red” Payne (Mary) of Amissville and John Franklin Payne (Ann) of Culpeper; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a former step-grandson Terry Wayne Fritts, III of Front Royal whom he had a close relationship with.

He was predeceased by one daughter Brenda Kay Payne; a son-in-law Gary Allen Thompson; two sisters Mable Sue Settle and Linda Lee Buchanan; and one brother Charles “Ed” Edward Payne.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Maddox Funeral Home in Front Royal.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 19, 2015, at 4:00 p.m. at Reynolds Memorial Baptist Church in Sperryville, Virginia. The service will be conducted by Pastor Jon Heddleston. Burial will be private.