Winford Payton

Winford Dean Payton, loving husband, brother, parent, grandparent, uncle, and friend died on Jan 14 and today is home with the Lord. Services will be at Christ United Methodist Church, 14506 E. 39th St., Indep, MO. Visitation on Tuesday, Jan 19 at 9:30, memorial at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Christ UMC. Born on Jan 12, 1926 in Downs, Kansas, Dean moved to Kansas City in the 1930s. An honored U.S. Navy veteran, he served with distinction as a medical corpsman with the U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima receiving the Purple Heart. He retired from the Southland Corp (7-Eleven Stores) with 23 years of service. Life revolved around family, church, friends and travel. Receiving and visiting his extended family at home and around the world gave him great joy. Dean was active in Christ Methodist Church for decades though United Methodist Men and Asbury class. An avid motorcyclist and member of Christian Motorcycle Assn for years, he enjoyed rallies and rode in 49 states. His supreme joy was biking 9,000 miles to/from Alaska with friends. He is now a proud graduate of “Hub University.” Dean was preceded in death by an infant son, his parents, Winford L. and Minnie Mae (Latham) Payton, and in-laws. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Maxine Chinn Payton; son Gary (Nancy); grandsons Ian (Charity), Adam, and Graham, and great grandson, Alec; sister Patty McLees; nieces Susan Guerrero, Barbie Marquis (Keith), Laurie Lentz (Chad), Lisa Gard (Dennis); nephews Fred Weatherford (Elaine), Paul (Lisa) and Rich (Holly) Chinn; and, 12 great nieces and nephews.