- Date Of Birth: November 3, 1932
- Date Of Death: July 1, 2019
- State: New Mexico
Lt. Col. Kenneth James Payne, Ret., was born in Bloomington, NE, and was raised on a farm near Torrington, WY. Kenneth graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Wyoming with honors, and was a member of the Arnold Air Society. Kenneth received a commission in the United States Air Force in 1955 as a Second Lt. After completing pilot training, he flew B-47’s out of Salina, KS. Kenneth moved to Albuquerque in 1959 and joined the Air Force Reserve and was employed at Sandia National Labs for 37 years. Kenneth retired as a Lt. Col. in 1992 from the Air Force Reserves.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Kimzey Payne; son, Russell Payne of Las Cruces, NM.; daughter, Sandra Payne Daffron and son-in-law, David Daffron of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Nathan Daffron, LCDR of Naval Reserve, Humble, TX., Benjamin Daffron, Albuquerque Police Officer, and Julie Daffron Frieb, a Chemical Engineer at Exxon/Mobile; as well as three great-grandchildren. Kenneth is preceded in death by his son, Scott Payne. Kenneth married Ruth R. Kimzey in Torrington, WY on September 6, 1952. He enjoyed recreational softball pitching with the SNL team, and was a Lobo basketball supporter for many years.
