Thomas F. Payne, 92, of Holden, died Friday, April 4, 2025 at the Lutheran Home in Worcester after a long illness. 

He leaves his wife of 63 years, Catherine E. (O’Brien) Payne; two daughters, Janice Murray and her husband Jack of Holden, and Christina Penny of Worcester; two sons, Michael T. Payne of Woodbridge, Va., and James Graham and his wife Joanne of San Mateo, Calif.; two sisters, Janet Smith of Ann Arbor, Mich. And June Alles of Westfield, Pa.; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a longtime friend Frank Burns of Worcester.

Tom’s daughter Margaret M. Giaquinto of Holden died last year.  He was also predeceased by two sons, Thomas in 1990 and Kevin in 2004.

Tom was born in Boston, son of Mary Salmon Payne and Prestin Piper.  He grew up on Grafton Hill in Worcester.  After graduating from St. Stephen’s High School, he joined the U.S Army and was a veteran of the Korean War.  He moved from Worcester to Holden about eight years ago. He and Cathy also made many winter trips to Florida. 

After several years as a bus operator for the Worcester Bus Company, Tom was appointed to the Worcester Police Department in 1963 where he had a long and distinguished career, retiring in 1997.

He was a serious sports fan actively following some favorite teams including the Red Sox, the Detroit Red Wings, and especially University of Notre Dame football.  

He was a member of St. George’s Church, the Mass. Police Association, and the Worcester Retired Police and Fire Association.    

Funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 (www.t2t.org), or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (www.stjude.org).

The Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, is directing arrangements.