Ron Payne

May 8, 1943 - October 5, 2018

Ron Payne, 75 of Ossian, passed away on Friday morning, October 5, 2018, at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. Ron was born on May 8, 1943 in Bluffton to James Russell & Gwendolyn B. (Sommers) Payne. He graduated from Lancaster High School in 1961. A lifelong farmer, Ron also operated an excavating business and was a master Bobcat operator along with operating a welding and repair business on the family farm. He was a longtime member of the First Church of Christ, where he was known as the “sucker man” for always giving out suckers to the kids. On January 11, 1964 in Bluffton, Ron and Joann L. (Dillon) Payne were married. Survivors include his wife Joann of 54 years of Ossian and children; Stacey (James) Worth, Ron (Angie) Payne, Andy (Robin) Payne and a daughter-in-law, Jamie Vitz, all of Bluffton. Ron is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Lucy Worth, Max Worth, Allie Payne, Jaden Payne and Claudia Vitz, Ellie Vitz and Sydney Vitz, and a brother Richard H. (Sharon) Payne of Bluffton. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by a son Eric Vitz and two sisters, Virginia Hartman and Carol Fiechter. A Service to celebrate Ron’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at the First Church of Christ. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Bluffton. Calling hours will be held from 12 Noon to 8 P.M. on Tuesday at the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton and for one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church. In Leu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials may be made in Ron’s memory to First Church of Christ or Family Life Care (Hospice Care from Berne.) Ron’s arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Thoma/Rich, Lemler Funeral Home in Bluffton. Friends can send online condolences to the family at www.thomarich.com.