Tom and Sandy Payne died as a result of a car crash on their way home on Monday, October 29, 2018. The week before they had been in Pennsylvania finalizing their next Navy reunion. Friday afternoon they stopped in Maryland to visit with their daughter and grandsons. On the way home, our father suffered a heart attack or similar trauma. Their car exited the highway and drove on the grassy median until cresting an embankment and landing on the route below. Both of our parents did not survive.

Our parents had many plans. The upcoming Navy reuinion, graduations, the holidays, seeing their grandsons, nieces, and nephews grow up, and so much more. Most recently my mom had donated a quilt for a school fundraiser and was hoping to hear that it had raised some money to help pay for a new roof. Our parents loved life, their family, their friends, their church, and their many communities that they lived in, including Hillsdale, Adrian, Hudson, Claremont, and Pence Springs.

Our mom used to share a reoccurring dream she had where she met her dad, brother and grandmother in Heaven. We like to think they are sat under that apple tree, and that my dad is there with the love of his life.

The Celebration of Life service will be on November 17, 2018, at 4 pm at the Griffith’s Creek Baptist Church in Alderson, West Virginia.

Friends asked us to set up this charity memorial fund to help defray costs associated with their unexpected and tragic passing as we seek to honor and celebrate our parents' lives.  If there is anything remaining, a portion of the proceeds will be donated according to their final wishes.