Wesley Truman Payne, 84, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, born on March 25, 1942 in Grundy, Virginia, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 26, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was the son of Solomon Thomas and Katherine Estelle (Burke) Payne.
Affectionately known as “Captain,” Wes worked at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (PPG) in Mt. Vernon for 10 years. He was later employed by American National Can, from which he retired after 20 years of employment. For most of his life, he played the guitar and was well-known for his singing voice and his witty sense of humor. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and loved spending time with his dog, Molly.
Having served as a field communication commander and sharp shooter in the United States Army from 1960-1962 at Fort Belvoir in Virginia, “Captain” was an active member of the AMVETS Post 95 and VFW Post 4027. He was also a member of the Colonial City Moose #2555.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn “Sue” (Westenbarger) Payne of Mt. Vernon; daughters, Shonna Harrison of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Shelly (John) Manning of Wilmington, North Carolina; three grandchildren, Tori Harrison, 23, of Smyrna, Tennessee, Celia Manning, 19, and Jake Manning,18, both of Wilmington, North Carolina; two brothers, Jesse “Buss” (JoAnn) Payne of Blue Springs, Missouri, George (Cathy) Payne of Lynchburg, Virginia, three sisters, Jane Weikle, Vivian Whited, and Jo Ann Whited, all of Fredericktown, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his twin brother Les; and brothers, Cread and Thomas.
There will be a graveside service with full military honors at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Rd., Seville, Ohio, on June 26, 2026 at 10:15 a.m., followed by a memorial celebration at the Colonial City Moose Family Center #2555, located at 417 W. Vine Street in Mt. Vernon, at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to AMVETS Post 95, PO Box 52, Mt. Vernon, OH 43050.
Funeral Home: Coastal Cremations
Website: coastalcremations.com