Douglas G. Paynter, 66, of Asotin, passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Prestige Care Center in Clarkston. He is now home.
Doug was born July 8, 1948, in McMinnville, Ore., to Glen and Virginia Paynter. He was the elder of their two children. Doug grew up on the outskirts of Lincoln City, Ore., attending school there and graduating from nearby Taft High School in 1966. After high school, he attended college at Northwest College in Kirkland, Wash., in 1966 and '67. While there at Northwest College, he met the love of his life, Janice Grinolds. Doug and Jan were engaged in 1968 and shortly thereafter Doug was drafted into the U.S. Army. Doug was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., Fort Sill, Okla., and was assigned to active duty in Italy. Doug served for two years as an artillery surveyor and received honorable discharge in 1970. Prior to being shipped out to Italy, Doug and Jan decided they should be married and they were on Nov. 23, 1968. Doug headed to Italy and Jan joined him a short while later.
Following his discharge in 1970, Doug returned to Oregon with Jan and they made their home in Lincoln City. While they lived there, Doug worked for Bob Harbaugh Cable TV. During this time they were blessed with their first child, a son, Chris. In 1976, Doug and Jan decided to move to Clarkston. Doug began working as a carpenter for C and C Builders and also for Poirier and Albright Construction. In 1978, Doug took a job with the Asotin Telephone Co. and he spent the rest of his career working in telecommunications. In 1984, Doug and Jan were again blessed with an addition to their family, this time a daughter, Angela. In 1987, Doug became the manager of the Asotin Telephone Co. and the family moved from Clarkston to Asotin, where Doug called home until his death. In 1995, Doug ended his time with the Asotin Telephone Co. and for the next three years worked for various utility contractors around the Northwest. In 1998, Doug took a job with Inland Telephone of Uniontown and worked there until a tragic auto accident effectively ended his working career. Unfortunately, Doug spent the rest of his days in a slow decline of health as a direct result of this accident.
Doug is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janice; his son, Chris and his wife, Kelly, and their two children, Jace and Addy, of Lewiston; his daughter, Angela and her husband, Ryan, and their two children, Wyatt and Kaleigh, of Nampa, Idaho.
Doug was preceded in death by his sister, Lois; and his parents, Glen and Virginia.
The family wishes to thank Paul Guenther, Launy Schwartzman and Lynn White, who have been faithful friends during these last few difficult months, Dr. Mackay for many years of care, as well as the people of Prestige Care of Clarkston, who took daily care of Doug during this last year.
Merchant Funeral Home of Clarkston is handling the arrangements.
There will be a viewing from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday at Merchant Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at SonRise Church, 2620 22nd St., in the Clarkston Heights, with a graveside service including military honors to follow at Normal Hill Cemetery.
