Orville Payne of La Porte, Indiana passed away at the La Porte Hospital after a lengthy illness on March 26, 2006.
Orville was born on June 13, 1920 to Herschel & Mary Payne in La Porte and lived most of his his adult life in La Porte except for a brief stay in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On Sept. 25, 1943 he married Dorothy Harris of La Porte who survives along with two sons; Bruce (Barbara) of La Porte and Kyle (Catherine) of South Bend. Dad was also blessed with 5 grandchildren, David and Barbara Joline of La Porte, Jennifer (Brian) Lambert of Mill Creek and Weston and Nicholas of South Bend. Dad's extended family also includes three beloved geat- grandchildren, Kirsten Lambert, and Dustin & Brenden Payne. He was preceded in death by a brother, Neal.
He attended Purdue University and during WW II he proudly supervised a munitions factory in Kingsbury which made shells for combat soldiers in the European and Asian Theaters. He spent most of his adult life in the engineering field working as a designer of farm machinery for Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. in La Porte and West Allis, Wisconsin. In his spare time he was a founding member of Michiana Antique Auto Association where he served as president during a period in the 1970's.
Orville thoroughly enjoyed designing farm machinery and restoring antique autos but his abiding love was for his family and his faith as a long time active member of the First United Methodist Church in La Porte. He was always the quiet but undisputed leader of the family, a veritable rock upon whom they all leaned when in need of a steady and caring hand. It would be an understatement to say that Orville was a true-life hero and role model for all to emulate. The family all feel blessed to have been able to call him husband, father, grandfather, and father-in-law, and his gentle spirit will permeate their lives forever.
Funeral service will be 11:00 AM Thursday March 30, at the Cutler Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Laue officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:30-8:00 pm & on Thursday from 10:00 am until the time of the service.