E.C. “Chunky” Payne, Choate, Texas passed away Saturday, February 11, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 93 years.

Chunky was born April 15, 1918, in Choate to Wiley Payne and Nancy Ellen Yeater Payne.

Chunky proudly served his country in the United States Navy and was a Veteran in WWII. After a career in the Navy, he went on to CP&L where he retired from after thirty-five years as a service man. Chunky was an active member of the Choate Baptist Church.  In is free time he also enjoyed and loved playing baseball and softball.

Chunky married Lottie Moses Payne. Together the two of them raised a beautiful family. They had two daughters and two sons.

He is survived by his wife, Lottie Moses Payne; his two daughters, Mary Lee Taylor of Santa Fe and Jackie Rutledge of Choate; his son, Wiley Payne and wife Debbie of Portland; his eleven grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Robert Elvin Payne; his brothers, Alvin, Delbert, Ollie, and Albert Payne; and his sister, Lucy Mary Wagner.

Visitation was held 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at Eckols Funeral Home Chapel, Kenedy, Texas. Funeral Services began at, 10 A.M., Monday, February 13, 2012 in the Eckols Chapel, with Rev. Larry Odom officiating. Burial followed in the Choate Cemetery, with Philip Bush, Tommy Jimerson, Ty Moses, Ty Moses, II, Amos Moses and Matt Seitzer; serving as Pallbearers.