VAL GENE PAYNE

16 NOVEMBER 1942 - 1 SEPTEMBER 2023

There was no published obituary for Val Gene.  The following is taken from information he provided for Class of 61 Reunions.  He lived in Hooper, Utah.  Val Gene met Faye in Virginia while he was stationed at Langley AFB.  They were parents of a daughter, a son, two grand daughters, two grandsons and two great-grandsons.  Val retired form the Air Force after "20 years, 26 days, 11 1/2 hours!"  At the time of his retirement he was an E7 Master Sergeant.  He joined the Air Force with fellow classmate Jay Oyler.  He also retired as a maintenance custodian from the US Postal Service.  Val said,"He had a very full and happy life."  His interests and hobbies include raising pigs (about 100) which kept him very busy.

Porter was fortunate to visit with Val Gene after the 50th class reunion.  I delivered his Class Reunion Book to him at his home in Hooper.  He truly had a love of animals.  There were pigs, geese, ducks, chickens, etc.  I remebered Val Gene as being fast - I believe someone nicknamed him "Hurricain Payne!"