It looks like you are viewing this on a mobile device. Would you like to use the mobile version? No thanks.
It looks like your device can support the full version of the site. Would you like to view that instead? No thanks.
Email to a friend Tweet This Send to Facebook Share on Google+
  Login
William Payne
March 24, 1929 - July 22, 2016
Return to the Memorial Getting Started Administration Inbox  
Return to Getting Started  
Return to the Memorial Help Extend the Memorial Order a Keepsake Book  
Obituary Eulogy Guestbook Biography Photos Media Life Stories Family Tree Contribute
<div itemprop="description">Payne, William Charles (Bill). <br> <br> <br> <br>After a magnificent life, Bill passed away peacefully in his 88th year on Friday, July 22 in St. Catharines. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Maureen, his children Frances Skelton (Bill) and Steve (Erin), his grandchildren Andrew (Stephanie), Nick and Lily, and his recently-arrived great grandson Reuben William. Bill was predeceased by his beloved grandson Danny and his sister Josephine Mountain. He will be forever remembered by his numerous nieces, nephews and family members. Bill was born in 1929 in Oldbury, UK. After serving in the RAF and training as an engineering draftsman, Bill moved to London where he met and married Maureen in 1955, settling in Sutton, Surrey. Bill had a highly successful career in the petrochemical industry, working for The Lummus Company, Humphreys and Glasgow, M.W. Kellogg and others. He spent many years on projects in India and the United States and also worked in the Soviet Union, Germany, Indonesia, Venezuela and China. He and Maureen moved the family to Toronto in 1974 and relocated to St. Catharines in 1987. Bill’s lifelong involvement with the sport of running began in 1944 as an athlete and continued for an incredible 63 years. As a talented cross country and middle distance runner Bill competed against some of the most famous British athletes of the 1950s. He made the finals of the 1952 Olympic Trials in the 800 metres. After he retired his spikes, Bill coached at the highest levels of track and field for four decades, training a thousand young athletes on both sides of the Atlantic, many of which went on to compete internationally. Bill was a member of six track clubs, honorary life member of four. He was the president of Sutton and Cheam Harriers (UK), the North York Track Club, Toronto, and Niagara Olympic Club, St. Catharines. He was instrumental in the building of the latter’s elite-quality West Park track which opened in 2001. Bill was cross country coach at Brock University until his retirement from sports in 2007. He was also president of the Dunlop Drive Senior Centre in St. Catharines. In 2002, Bill was named the Ontario Track and Field Association Coach of the Year and 3M Community Coach of the Year. In 2012, Bill was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for honorable service or outstanding achievement in the community. The Payne family thank the dedicated staff at Linhaven Nursing Home and Hotel Dieu Shaver. A private family funeral will be held at the Butler Funeral Home, 424 Niagara Street, St. Catharines 905-646-6322. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s name to the Canadian Tire Jump Start program (jumpstart.canadiantire.ca), which funds kids sports program for families in need, would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to share memories or photos of Bill, please post them on the Facebook page Bill Payne Running Memories. <br> <br></div>