John William Payne, 88, a resident of Niceville, Florida, died there Tuesday, October 16, 2012. He was born August 28, 1924 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, the son of Harvey Coleman and Vera Creek Payne.

During World War II he served in the Marines as a submarine tracker.

After the war he worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, Tennessee for 37 years. He moved to Niceville in 1988.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife of almost 57 years, Nancy Barham Payne, who died in 2007. Survivors include children: John Charles Payne, Chattanooga, Wendell Lee Payne, Montgomery, AL, Karen Payne Ehrbar (Thomas), Boca Raton, FL, and Paul Allen Payne (Brenda), Montgomery; grandchildren, Thomas Richard Ehrbar III, Elizabeth Anne Ehrbar, Kadie Allen Payne, Rome Key Payne, and John Clark Payne; great-granddaughter, Ella Jane Ehrbar; brothers, Donald Payne, Chattanooga and Jere Payne, Kimball, TN; sister, Sara Payne Vinson, South Pittsburg, TN. He is also survived by a special friend and companion, Sherry Montgomery.

There will be a visitation in the Friendship Hall of First United Methodist Church of Niceville, 214 Partin Drive, Niceville on Thursday, October 18, 2012 from 3 to 5 pm.

The family will also receive friends for visitation at Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Avenue, South Pittsburg, TN on Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 11am Central time until time of the funeral service at 12 noon. The Rev. Michael Vinson will officiate and burial will take place at Cumberland View Cemetery, Kimball, TN.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to UAB Center for Aging, BDB 487, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0012.