Virgil O. Payne

Virgil O. "Rusty" Payne Jr., 84, formerly of Loyalhanna, died Thursday, April 9, 2009, in Excela Health Latrobe Hospital. Born Jan. 18, 1925, in Latrobe, he was a son of the late Virgil O. Payne Sr. and Anna (Vorel) Payne. Prior to his retirement, he was the owner of Payne and Dumont Appliances. He was a member of Latrobe Presbyterian Church. A World War II veteran, he served in the Army Air Corps. He also was a member of American Legion Post 324, Derry Ukes, Tony Angelo FOE Aerie 01188, and Frontier Club, and a former Scoutmaster of Troop 348/Troop 1, Latrobe Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed working on cars, and attended Vale Technical Institute in Blairsville. As a young man, he enjoyed building model airplanes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Florence E. (Cowan) Payne, in 2007. He is survived by a son, Thomas A. Payne and his wife, Linda, of New Alexandria; two grandsons, Travis and Luke Payne; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Roseanne Mrozinsky, of Loyalhanna; a brother, Richard C. Payne and his wife, Anita, of North Carolina; a sister, Sally Sweeney, of Latrobe; a sister-in-law, Rosemary C. Dumont, of Blairsville; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received from 9 until 11 a.m. Tuesday at the FREDERICK FUNERAL HOME INC., 1543 Ligonier St., Latrobe, where services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Clark R. Kerr officiating. The combined funeral detail of American Legion Post 515 and VFW Post 3414 will provide military honors at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Private burial will take place in Unity Cemetery, Latrobe. To send online condolences, visit www.frederickfuneralhome.com.