Payne, Virle Crow

Virle Crow Payne, age 96, of Blacksburg, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014. She was born April 2, 1917 in Fairforest, South Carolina. She is survived by daughters Ann Graham (husband Jack) of Virginia Beach, and Virginia (Ginny) Payne, of Tampa, Florida; granddaughter Lara Zacharias (husband John); and great-grandchildren Graham, George and Sally Zacharias.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred C. Payne; son Thomas E. Payne; and grandson Alfred Carter Graham.

Virle received her BS from Winthrop College in 1938 and MS from Virginia Tech in 1962. She was an instructor at Virginia Tech until 1967 when she joined the faculty at Radford College and directed the preschool. Throughout her life she influenced the lives of many students, parents, and children.

Virle had an adventurous spirit and traveled extensively. She bicycled across a dike in Holland and walked the Great Wall of China. She enjoyed the outdoors and loved the water (Swimming anywhere, snorkeling in the Caribbean, canoeing on the New River and kayaking on the Chesapeake Bay), bicycling (the Huckleberry Trail and Europe), and walking the woods around Warm Hearth.

She believed in giving to the community and her positive attitude, wisdom and kindness will be missed. She was an extraordinary mother, grandmother and sister to four brothers. Virle was a role model to many because of her amazing energy, positive attitude and determination.

Virle’s family would like to express appreciation to all the staff at Showalter/Warm Hearth (her extended family).

A service celebrating her life will be on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Blacksburg Baptist Church with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church of your choice or to the “P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education” (A scholarship supporting women returning to college) through P.E.O. Chapter AU, P.O. Box 10415, Blacksburg, VA 24062.

Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.