Robert L. Payne

Robert "Bob" L. Payne, 73, of Topeka, passed away June 14, 2011. Mr. Payne was born in East St. Louis, IL on February 24, 1938, son of Wesley and Susan (Eggars) Payne. He attended Granite City, IL Grade School and graduated from Collinsville, IL High School.

Bob served on active duty in the US Air Force. He served his entire four year career at Forbes Air Force Base, Topeka, in the strategic air command as an intelligence specialist from 1956 to 1960.

Bob was employed sixteen years with Suttons, Inc. as assistant manager and produce manager. He also worked for eleven years as produce manager of Mike's IGA and part time in the produce department at Food-4-Less in Topeka.
He attended East Side Baptist Church is currently a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Topeka. He was very active in both churches serving on the deacon board and as Sunday school teacher.

He married Marcia Elkin in 1959 at a small country church southeast of Lyndon, KS. She survives. Also surviving, two sons Robert B. (Diane K.) Payne, of Topeka and Troy R (Patricia) Payne, of Lake Perry; five grandchildren, Hannah McIntyre, Megan Christopherson, Joshua Christopherson, Trevor Payne and Whitney Payne; six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Monday, June 20, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 4011 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66617. Interment will follow at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery. Mr. Payne will lie in state after 1 p.m., Sunday at the Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave. Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, sent in care of the church.