Walter Frank Paine, 89, of Greenville, formerly of Mulberry Grove, died at 6:13 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at Liberty Cemetery in Mulberry Grove. Military honors will be accorded by the Mulberry Grove American Legion Post #1180 and the Patriot Guard. A funeral procession will leave from the First Church of Christ (409 North Maple Street, Mulberry Grove) at 10:30 a.m. To honor Mr. Paine’s service to the country, the procession will travel through Mulberry Grove past the Mulberry Grove American Legion Post #1180 and continue to Liberty Cemetery. Donnell–Wiegand Funeral Home of Greenville is assisting the family with arrangements.
Mr. Paine was born on March 5, 1931, in Greenville, to Frank and Mary (Bowdre) Paine. He grew up in Bond County, where he attended the local schools and Greenville High School. He married Margaret “Maggie” Ellen Simmons Dec. 10, 1950, they enjoyed 46 years together before her passing on March 19, 1997.
In his youth, Mr. Paine started working with his father at Doc Floyd Orchard in Greenville. After graduation from high school, he was involved in the construction of an additional building at A.E. Staley Mfg., Co., in Decatur. As a young man, he decided that military service would be a good choice for his life, and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
The Paine family lived in Jacksonville, FL; Patuxent River, MD; Albuquerque, NM; Argentia; Newfoundland, Canada; Corpus Christi, TX; and Millington, TN. He was also stationed on the USS Independence in the Mediterranean Sea, Reykjavik, Iceland and Norfork, VA.
Mr. Paine retired to Mulberry Grove after 20 years in the Navy. He worked another 20 years as lot supervisor for Midwest Commodities, in Mulberry Grove. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and spent time in Arizona during the winter months until her death. In his later years, he spent his winters in Alpine, CA, with Connie Koontz.
Mr. Paine enjoyed golfing and model trains. His biggest legacy is his family.
Mr. Paine is survived by his children, Ronald (Joni) Paine of Litchfield, Robert (Joyce) Paine of Woodriver and Autry (Allen) Dotson of Sedalia, MO; his significant other of 22 years, Connie Koontz; her sons, Scott (Lisa) Gosnell of Alpine, CA, and Corey (Kim) Gosnell of Lansing, MI; grandchildren, Michael (Tim) Wagner of Columbia, Jancye (Nathan) Hortenstine of Ramsey, Nicholas (Stephanie) Paine of St. Louis, MO, Aaron Paine of Litchfield, Carli (Chance) Keown of Hillsboro, Shelby Dotson of Sedalia, MO, Jamie (Kent) Michaelis of Carlinville and Grace Gosnell of Alpine, CA; and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; two sons, James Paine and Walter “Wally” Paine, Jr; and siblings, Zane Paine, Don Paine, Lynn Paine, Bill Paine and Lucy Merritt.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mulberry Grove American Legion Post #1180, mailed to Donnell–Wiegand Funeral Home, 203 West Oak Street, Greenville. Condolences may be left online at www.donnellwiegand.com.
