William (Bill) Ferdinand Payne, December 25, 1950 – December 4, 2021, grandson of Ferdinand Eberstadt of New York City and son of Lieutenant Commander John Walker Payne, Jr. of Fayette, Missouri and Frances Stewart Eberstadt of New York City passed peacefully in his sleep at the home of his caretaker, Vi Peak, the afternoon of Saturday December 4 in Prescott, Arizona. Bill was born in New Jersey, graduated from Hickman High in 1969 and Stevens College in 1976, where he was known as quite the party host. Bill moved to Prescott in 1979, when he and his brother, John Payne, purchased the KNOT radio stations. Bill ran the stations until their sale in 2005. Bill was an active member of the Frontier Rotary Club of Prescott. He is survived by his sister Frances V Payne, three nieces and two nephews.

Posted online on December 20, 2021 Published in Columbia Daily Tribune