Robert Lee Payne (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Robert Lee Payne was born June 17, 1930 in Princeton, Missouri, to his parents, Otto Earl and Murl Johnson Payne. He departed this life Thursday, August 14, 2025 in the Kansas City Hospice House, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was ninety-five years, one month and twenty-eight days of age.
Robert was raised in Princeton, Missouri and was a graduate of Princeton High School. He joined the United States Army when he was seventeen years old and faithfully served for twenty years. He did tours in the Korean War, as well as the Vietnam War, serving in National Defense in Army Intelligence. He was also stationed in Tokyo, Japan for a time.
Robert was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnamese Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Bronze Star Medal.
On July 28, 1968, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Darlene Rhoads. They shared fifty-one years of life and wonderful memories before she passed away on May 12, 2020.
Following his retirement from the Army, he and Marjorie moved with their children from Edwardsville, Kansas to Lebanon, Missouri. They then moved to Harrisonville, Missouri to be closer to their grandchildren. They enjoyed traveling all over the United States.
Robert is survived by two daughters, Sherry Verity and her husband John of West Plains, Missouri and Cathy Vaughn of Harrisonville, Missouri; his son, Dan Price and his wife Becky of Bonner Springs, Kansas; eleven grandchildren, Jason Allen and his wife Carrie, Jared Allen, Tresslyn Price, Brian Minick, Joshua and his wife Ashton, Nathan Minick and his wife Ashley, Anthony Vaughn, Caitlyn Vaca and her husband Steven, Collena Payne, Melissa Foster and her husband Christopher and Courtney Throesch and her husband Adam; his great-grandchildren, Caleb, Carter, Chloe, Emily, Sam, Peyton, Mason, Mallory, Madison, Christopher, Lauren, Taylor, Alexis, Ava, Simon, Montgomery, Mercy, Aiden, Greyson, Charles, Sophia, Kennedy, Charlotte, Easton, Lylah, Grace and Harmony; and his daughter-in-law, Claudia Payne of Germany; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Murl; his loving wife, Marjorie; a son, Bobby Payne; and his grandson, Shaun Price.
Robert was active in the Elks Lodge and the VFW. He enjoyed gardening, rock collecting, bee keeping, mushroom hunting, especially coral mushrooms, fishing and deer hunting. He also loved building bird houses.
Most of all, Robert cherished his family. They were so special to him and looked forward to spending time with them. He will be so very missed by those who knew and loved him.
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