Colonel Howard Vernon Payton Jr.

Colonel Howard Vernon Payton, Jr was born in Birmingham, AL on November 18, 1937. He passed away on August 21, 2025 at the age of 87. A visitation will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Bolton Funeral Home, 207 Highway 47, Columbiana, AL 35051. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM. Rev. Herman Pair is presiding. He will be laid to rest at Pinelawn Gardens. Colonel Payton was a graduate of Phillips High School and Howard College (later renamed Samford University). He spent over 30 years serving our country, beginning his military career in the United States Air Force in August 1965. In October 1972, he was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army Reserves. He was a Cold War Veteran during the Berlin Crisis and was later assigned to the 87th MAC for several years, where he held multiple roles ranging from Secretary to the General Staff (SGS) to Chief Intelligence and Operations Officer. From 1983 to 1987, he was selected as Department of Defense Coordinator for National Veterans Day in Birmingham. At the time, it was the largest Veterans Day celebration in the country. He considered this a great honor as he had the opportunity to host many distinguished Americans. In 1987, he became Commander of the 75th Field Hospital in Tuscaloosa and finished his military career as the Commander of the 5th Medical Group in Birmingham, which served in the Gulf War. Amongst his many military achievements, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. In his civilian life, his career included banking, medical management, investment banking, insurance, and financial advising. He worked for companies such as Merrill Lynch, Stearne Agee & Leach, and Met Life. He found this very fulfilling as he never stopped striving to learn. After retirement, he spent many wonderful years traveling the world with his wife, Billie, great friends, and family. Colonel Payton was predeceased by his parents, the late Howard Vernon Payton, Sr and the late Aubrey John Payton, his brother Robert Payton, and his wife of 60 years, Billie Worthington Payton. He is survived by his only daughter, Paige Payton Stone (Doug), his two granddaughters, Payton Stone Miller (Austin) and Sydney Stone Maynard (Matthew), his great-grandson Stone William Miller, his brother Benjamin L. Payton (Cindy), and many nieces and nephews. Please sign online condolences at www.boltonfuneralhome.com.