Tryon, NC - Robert Jacob Payne, 76, of Overlook Circle, Tryon, NC died Sunday, January 30, 2011 in the Hospice of the Carolina Foothills House, Landrum, SC.Born in Canandaigua, NY, he was the son of the late Arthur and Anna Wisse Payne. Mr. Payne retired from AT&T after 27 years of service before coming to Polk County in 1990 from Basking Ridge, NJ. He then taught Freshman English at USC Upstate for 6 years. Robert volunteered with Big Brothers & Big Sisters Organization and was an avid fisherman. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Christ, Tryon, NC.Surviving are: his wife of 32 years Alice Shupe Payne, three sons, Robert Douglas Payne of Glendale, AZ, Mark Brian Payne of Winston Salem, NC and Jeffrey Lloyd Payne of Alexandra, VA; a daughter, Lauren Jeannette Payne of Paynes Creek, CA; a brother, Lawrence Payne of Falls Church, VA and an aunt, Nellie LaMeire of Bokeelia, FL. Also surviving are 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, February 5, 2011 in F.E.N.C.E. (Foothills Equestrian Nature Center), 3381 Hunting Country Road, Tryon, N.C. Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Drive, Columbus, NC 28722 or to the Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, NC 28722.
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