Rebecca Ann Payne

Rebecca A. Payne, age 68, died June 29, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona. Rebecca was born on May 20, 1957, in Norwalk, Ohio to Richard L. Payne and Betty L. Payne. She was raised in Bronson, Michigan, graduated from Bronson High School and then went on to University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated in 1998 with a Doctor of Philosophy. Rebecca became a journalism professor at the University of Arizona.

She enjoyed hiking, bike riding and cooking. She was an avid reader.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Betty L. and Richard L. Payne

Survived by spouse, Philip A. Fatato and brother and sisters, Betty M. Payne, Richard Payne, Martha J. Wariner, Julia I. Payne and Virginia L. Wilber.