Franklin P. Payne

FRANKLIN P. PAYNE, age 85, of 158 Payne Marsh Road, Berkshire, NY died Friday, January 29, 2010 at his residence. Mr. Payne was born June 15, 1924 on the family farm where he lived, worked and raised his family. Frank served honorably in the US Army during WWII and participated in the invasion of Normandy and was wounded in Belgium. On December 27, 1947 he was married to the former Violet Frances Allen who survives. He was a dairy farmer and was well known for running the popcorn machine at Skyline Raceway. He was always busy and enjoyed helping his boys at Skyline Raceway and CNY Wood Products where he split the kindling for packaged firewood. He was a life member of the Owego Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Violet F. Payne at home, his children, Nancy (David) Pepin of Trumansburg, Franklin D. (Audrey) Payne, Joel (Nancy) Payne and Bonnielyn (Terry) Jones all of Berkshire; grandchildren, Heather, Jason, Tiffany, Andrew (Jolene) and Ashley (Chad) O’Connor; great-grandchildren, Faith, Brenton and Haley Payne and Joshua O’Connor; his brothers, Arthur (Joyce) Payne of Marathon and Karl (Jackie) Payne of Seattle, WA, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by siblings, Leigh, Lawrence and Eugene Payne and Helen Zukowski and a sister-in-law, Rosemary Payne.

Funeral services will be at 1 PM Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 at the Perkins Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Johnson officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Berkshire. Friends are invited to call from 11 AM to 1 PM Wednesday at the funeral home, 55 West Main St., Dryden. Memorials are directed to the Berkshire Fire Dept., Berkshire, NY 13736. www.perkinsfuneralhome.com