Marlene and Harold Payne
A funeral mass for Harold and Marlene Payne will be held Saturday, June 17 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann - St. Joseph Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, followed by interment of ashes at St. Joseph’s Paint Rock Cemetery, Harpers Ferry. Memorial contributions may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/.
Marlene Payne
Marlene Eleanor (Delphey) Payne, age 82, passed away October 25, 2022. She was born August 6, 1940 in Dubuque to Edward A. and Mildred (Hogan) Delphey. She grew up in her beloved hometown of Harpers Ferry. Marlene later lived in Cedar Rapids, Binghamton, NY, and spent her final years in Fort Myers, FL.
Marlene graduated from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids before obtaining her bachelor of science in nursing from the University of Iowa and her master of science in nursing from Syracuse University. Marlene became a nursing educator almost as soon as she graduated from Mercy, teaching at her alma mater while she continued her education.
She dedicated her career to excellence in nursing education and taught in New York at Broome Community College and then spent over 20 years at the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University where she retired from her role as the Undergraduate Nursing Program Coordinator. She spent countless hours preparing and delivering courses to her students and created an accelerated bachelor in nursing program. She focused on gerontology and was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing.
Marlene married Harold C. Payne in 1966 and earned her pilot’s license to join him in his passion for flying. They famously flew themselves to the Bahamas in a small plane for their honeymoon. Marlene and Harold, along with their two children, flew from New York to the Midwest every summer to visit their families in Iowa and Illinois. She continued to enjoy travel in her retirement, visiting all 50 states and 47 countries with her husband of 55 years. She loved spending time with friends and visiting family at their home in Fort Myers.
Marlene is survived by her children, Tracy Payne Squyres (Jeff) and Mark Payne (Valentina Bosco); her grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kathryn Squyres; her sister, Dolores Schmitt; her brother-in-law, Steven Payne (Etta); and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her parents; and her brothers-in-law, James “Ned” Schmitt, and Elvin “Biz” Payne and his wife, Marlene Elizabeth Payne.
Harold Payne
Harold Chester Payne, age 84, passed away October 4, 2021. He was born November 14, 1936 in Greenville, IL to Lloyd C. and Crena L. (Busby) Payne. Throughout his life, he lived in Greenville, IL, Cedar Rapids, Binghamton, NY, and spent his final years in Fort Myers, Florida.
Harold graduated from Greenville College and the University of Illinois earning bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and industrial engineering. He had a passion for flying, earning his private pilot’s license at the age of 18, and enjoyed flying small aircraft, taking his family on trips from New York back to the Midwest every summer. He worked for Collins Radio, Link Flight Simulators, and Universal Instruments and enjoyed anything related to aviation.
Harold loved country music, played the guitar, and occasionally made pilgrimages to the Grand Ole Opry in his youth. Later, he enjoyed travel, visiting all 50 states and 47 countries with his wife of 55 years.
Harold was survived by his wife, Marlene (Delphey) Payne, until she passed away October 25, 2022; his children, Tracy Payne Squyres (Jeff) and Mark Payne (Valentina Bosco); his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kathryn Squyres; his brother, Steven Payne (Etta); his sisters-in-law, Dolores Schmitt and Marlene Elizabeth Payne; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Elvin “Biz” Payne; and his brother-in-law, James “Ned” Schmitt.
