Erma Payne

Erma Mae Payne passed away peacefully of natural causes on January 7, 2021 at the age of 97. She was born on May 16, 1923 in Gahagen, Pennsylvania to the late Harry Spencer Duppstadt and Nellie Elizabeth Duppstadt. Erma was the second born of four children, and raised in Buckstown, Somerset County, PA. A trailblazer from a young age, Erma graduated from Stonycreek Township High School in 1941, then worked for several years during WWII as a drafting associate assisting in the war effort. At the urging of her employer, she enrolled in a co-op program at the University of Cincinnati where she could study and work in order to pay for her tuition, room and board. Erma met her lifelong friend Jane Dyruff during college. After graduating with a degree in business administration, she and Jane decided to move West, traveling in Jane’s Pontiac on an adventure filled road trip that took them through Denver, Salt Lake City, and as far South as Tijuana, Mexico where they attended a bullfight. They finally settled in San Francisco in 1953, where Erma met the love of her life Ray Payne. They met when Ray, a CPA, was auditing Hale Brother’s department store where she worked in accounting. After a brief courtship they were married in San Francisco in 1955, then moved to Walnut Creek where they lived for more than 35 years. After residing briefly in Rancho Murrieta, they finally settled in Brentwood in 1996. They enjoyed 53 years of wedded bliss until Ray’s passing in 2008.

Erma cherished raising her children, tending to her always beautiful garden, volunteering in her church and other charitable organizations, and eventually becoming a successful residential real estate broker after securing her license in 1971. She loved her travels back to PA to visit family and friends, annual camping trips to Woods Lake, and joining Ray on many of his international trips. She raised prize winning chrysanthemums - she had the greenest thumb and could grow just about anything - and was always a top producer in her long real estate career. It should come as no surprise to all who knew her that Erma held an active real estate license well into her nineties. In retirement she and Ray enjoyed spending the winter months at their condo in Molokai, Hawaii, doting on her grandchildren, and tending to her garden and making homemade jam from the bounty of her fruit trees. A special thanks goes to the late Tom Lococo, Erma’s dear friend, and his family for the joy they provided in her last years. Erma was kind, caring, generous, and always the first to offer a helping hand. Her impeccable work ethic set the example for her family and all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband Ray, her beloved son Douglas, and her brothers Virgil and Karl. She is survived by her daughter Susan Ritschel and her husband Mitch of San Clemente; her brother Richard Duppstadt and his wife Arlene of Buckstown, PA; and her daughterin-law Jennifer Payne of Caldwell, ID. Her grandchildren Michael Payne and his wife Charlotte, of Benicia; Katie Payne Terry, her husband Joe and their son Jameson of Benicia; Steven Payne, his wife Kathleen and their children Kylee, Sophia, Weslyn and Tucker of Warner, NH; Nico Ritschel of Irvine; and Jake Ritschel of Sacramento will carry her memories forward. Donations may be made in Erma’s memory to the Saint Matthew Lutheran Church Foundation, 399 Wiget Lane, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, or to the charity of your choice. She would love it if you would plant a special fruit tree in her memory. A celebration of life will be held when it is safe to do so.