PHILO, Ill., -- James R. Payne Jr., 89, of Philo died Thursday (July 17, 2008) at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana.

His remains were cremated. There will be no memorial service.

Mr. Payne was born Oct. 31, 1918, in Janesville, Wis., a child of James R. and Lella Mary (Tibbals) Payne. He married Jean Carol Byrd on July 31, 1948. She survives.

Survivors also include his four children and their families: James and Mare Payne of Urbana; Nancy Payne of Champaign; Thomas and Christine Payne of Philo; Sally and Michael Hummel of Charlotte, N.C.; and three grandchildren.

He is also survived by a sister, Betty Janiak, of Temecula, Calif. He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Payne, of Selinsgrove, Pa.

Mr. Payne served in the Army from 1942 to 1946, with duty in Europe and the Pacific.

He taught industrial arts at Bradley University in Peoria, and worked at the University of Illinois for more than 20 years, retiring as registrar in 1978. He owned and operated Osage Gallery, a picture-framing shop in Philo.

He was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church.

He was a skilled woodworker and enjoyed sailing and the outdoors.

Memorials may be made to Prairie Rivers Network, 1902 Fox Drive, Suite G, Champaign, Ill. 61820.