Richard Gordon Payne, 77, of Vandenberg Village, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, October 15, 2012 after a brief illness. He was born on August 3, 1935 in Washington D.C. to John and June Payne. He grew up in Washington D.C. and Florida. At the age of 10, he moved to Redondo Beach, California. Richard received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of California at Long Beach in 1964 at which time he moved to Lompoc to work for Boeing. He then went to work in 1971 for the U.S. Government as a Civil Servant until he retired in 2005. A longtime resident of Lompoc, he was an active member of Lompoc Valley Baptist Church where he sang in the choir, served as an usher, kept meticulous Sunday School attendance sheets, and loved to go out on Saturday mornings into the community telling others about Jesus Christ.
Dick, as his friends and family knew him, was an avid bicyclist and conservationist his entire life. He was an advocate for good nutrition and inspired all of us to eat healthy. He was deeply loved by his family and will be greatly missed by all.
Survivors (spouses) include his wife of 47 years, Karen Payne of Vandenberg Village; daughters, Diane (Andy) Motter of Santa Maria and Tammy (Matthew) Jones of Lake Jackson, Texas; son, Steven (Lisa) Payne of Surprise, Arizona; and grandchildren, Robert, Timothy, Jack, Paul, Sonia, Gilbert, Melissa, Jodi and Rachel.
His parents preceded him in death.
Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Friday, October 19, 2012 at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 4 p.m. at the Lompoc Valley Baptist Church, 700 East College Avenue, Lompoc 93436, with Pastor Travis Collins officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Lompoc Valley Baptist School Scholarship Fund.