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Herman Paynter Obituary

PAYNTER, Herman Jones, 93, died on December 15, 2007 surrounded by his family and friends and the loving staff at his Hanover Manor home in Ashland, Va. Mr. Paynter was born May 17, 1914 on a sheep farm in Warren County, N.C. He began his career with Leggett Department Stores in Henderson at age 13. No one will be surprised to learn that his first job was greeting and shaking hands with each new customer. That warm handshake has become an unforgettable Paynter tradition. His career in retailing continued for the remainder of his working life except for the period in 1944 through 1946, when he proudly served with General Patton's Third Army, 385th Battalion in Europe during World War II. He brought his family to Ashland in 1954 when he bought Flowers Department Store, which later became Paynter's Department Store. In July of 1977, Mr. Paynter retired but remained active by pursuing his interests in gardening, caring for his animals and in the First Baptist Church by serving as an usher and working on the grounds committee for many years. Mr. Paynter is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Sarah Edna Davis Paynter; and his grandson, Ryland O. Reamy III. He is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Paynter Reamy; and son-in-law, Ryland Osborne Reamy Jr. of Midlothian, Va. He is also survived by his oldest grandson, Ryland Paynter Reamy and his wife, Sandra Brown Reamy, of Jacksonville, Fla.; their children, Sampson, Ashley and Ericka Gilley, her husband, Don, and her sons, Hayden and Tyler, also of Jacksonville, Fla. His youngest surviving grandson, Ryland Derek Reamy and his wife, Sara Jaffe Reamy and their children, Katherine, Jack, Peter and Matthew who live in Portland, Ore. Mr. Paynter has a surviving sister, Eunice Garber, living in South Hill, Va. He also leaves behind in North Carolina his nephew, Macey Paynter, his wife, Vivian, and their children, Rann, Sarah and Wendy, who were loved as grandchildren. The family will welcome friends and loved ones on Monday, December 17, 2007 between the hours of 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nelsen Funeral Home, Reid Chapel, 412 South Washington Highway in Ashland, Va. The funeral service will be conducted by Rev. Robert Thompson on Tuesday, December 18, 2007, at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, Ashland, Va. Interment will follow in Woodland Cemetery, Ashland, Va. Strolling in the garden was another Paynter tradition. "Only God can make a flower that beautiful," he would always say, but loving hands complimented by a white shirt and tie surely must have helped. Remembering his love of gardening and his proud service during World War II, gifts in memory of Mr. Paynter may be made to the First Baptist Church Memorial Garden Fund, 800 Thompson Street Ashland, Va. 23005; or the National World War II Memorial, 2300 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 501, Arlington, Va. 22201, 1-800-639-4WW2 or www.WWIImemorial.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Richmond Times-Dispatch on Dec. 17, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
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5 Entries

Pat Boschen

December 21, 2007

Dear Charlotte and family:
I'm so very sorry to hear about Mr. Paynter's passing. I loved going to Paynter's and shopping, because your parents were such delightful people, and they were also so kind to the kids in town. I loved until recently riding by the house and still seeing him working in the yard.

He will be greatly missed. Ashland has lost another treasure....

Jim Bocrie Insurance Agency. Jim Bocrie & Sarah Bocrie Tomlin

December 20, 2007

Mr. Paynter was such a great person. It was always a pleasure to have him come into our office and talk a while. I loved to hear his stories of WWII. And that handshake...who could forget that handshake. Everytime he came in, he would ask if the boss man was in and would grip Jim's hand with that big smile on his face. I never saw Mr. Paynter without a big smile! Even though we had not seen Mr. Paynter for awhile, he will never be forgotten as one of favorite policyholders and hero to our country!

Susan Russell

December 17, 2007

Dear Charlotte,
Mother (Isabel Webb) and I join you and your family in your grief over the loss of your beloved father. He brought a special light and gentility to the Hanover Manor, just as he and your mother did to Paynter's Department Store, and he will be sorely missed. You have our deepest sympathies, Susan and Ibby

Emily Mitchell Skinner

December 17, 2007

No trip to Ashland was ever complete without going to Paynter's Department Store. I have such fond childhood memories of shopping with my mother and sister. Mr. and Mrs. Paytner were so warm and friendly. Oh what the retailers in business today could have learned from Mr. and Mrs. Paytner. May God comfort your family during this time.

Bubba & Ann Loving

December 17, 2007

To the Paynter family:

I remember so well as a child going into the Paynters Department Store in Ashland and seeing Mr. & Mrs. Paynter - they were always so kind and so glad to see you! Mr. Paynter was always such a gentleman and greeted us as soon as we entered the store, yes, always in his white shirt and tie. He will be surely missed!
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.

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