Howard Lee Payne, 100, of Benton, passed away at 8:10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at the Herrin Hospital. He was born on April 21, 1915 to Frank and Kate (Lee) Payne in Macedonia, IL. On December 15, 1945 he married Helene Taake and she preceded him in death on June 7, 2010. Mr. Payne was a founding member of the Bank of Benton and retired after 48 years as the Bank President for Boatman's Bank, Benton. Howard was the past Chairman and Director Emeritus and Provider of Endowed Scholarship at Rend Lake College Foundation, past President of Benton Chamber of Commerce and selected Man of the Year by the Chamber in 1974, past President of Benton Zoning Board of Appeals, past President and Honorary Life Member of the Benton Rotary Club and was honored by being elected as a Paul Harris Fellow Recipient, past Chairman and President of Board of Directors of the Bank of Benton now the Bank of America and also a former Chairman of Bank of Zeigler, past President of Group 10 of Southern Illinois Bankers Association, served three terms as Chairman of the Southern Illinois Workforce Development Board. He was awarded the 1985 Liberty Bell award by the Franklin County Bar Association. Howard was a United States WWII Army Veteran and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Benton American Legion Post 280, Masonic Lodge of Benton, Order of Eastern Star, Benton Shriners, and member of the First Untied Methodist Church serving in many leadership rolls through out the years. Howard is survived by his nieces and nephews, Dick Rice of Benton, IL, Dee Harp of Benton, IL, Fredrick Taake of Denver, CO, Evelyn (Joe) Browning of Mesa, AZ, Susan (Fred) McMullin of Denver, CO, Mary Evelyn (Leonard) Hannagan of Shreveport, IN, Mary Helen Beckemeier of Florrisant, MO and Shirley Chester of St. Louis, MO; a sister-in-law, Betty Payne of Benton, IL; and a special friend, Betty Phillips of Benton, IL. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a sister, Wilma Rice, a brother, Roy Payne, and niece, Billie Chamblin. Per Howard's wishes a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements under the direction of Hobbs-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory, Benton, IL. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Benton or the Rend Lake College Foundation and will be accepted at the funeral home.