Louis B. "Lou" Payne battled the bottle and eventually won, overcoming alcoholism and helping others do the same.

When he died Feb. 15 at age 79, after a years-long bout with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the Westminster resident had been sober for 36 years.

"He was proud of his recovery," said Payne's widow, Catherine Stockdale Payne. "When he hit his first anniversary, he went out and got an amethyst ring to signify his sobriety."

Mr. Payne was the son of Eulaine and Dr. John Bosworth Payne of Washington, D.C.

After World War II broke out, Mr. Payne's older brothers enlisted in the military, and he decided to join them.

At age 15, he dropped out of school, ran away from home and persuaded a Navy recruiter to sign him up despite his age and stature - 5 feet 2 - and slight frame.

When Mr. Payne's mother found out about his enlistment, she went straight to the recruiter to put a stop to it.

"She was incensed, but he was very persuasive. In 1943, I think they would take anyone," Catherine Payne said.

After serving aboard landing craft and submarines in the South Pacific, Mr. Payne got his high school diploma, then earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Creighton University in Omaha.

Although he tried his hand at many jobs, Mr. Payne's manner with people made him a top-notch salesman who was recognized with a number of awards, including Salesman of the Year for Virco Manufacturing. His last sales job was with Office Warehouse Inc.

He worked for a number of companies and manufacturers, but his problem with alcohol kept haunting his career and his personal life.

After one marriage ended in divorce and he lost several friends and jobs because of his alcoholism, Mr. Payne turned to the York Street Club, a Denver Alcoholic Anonymous facility, for help.

Mr. Payne moved into a small apartment near the facility with a roommate named Hurt.

"I can't remember his roommate's first name, but there they were: Hurt and Payne, in the same apartment," a reminder of Mr. Payne's sharp wit, his widow said. "He made that apartment his place of healing."

Mr. Payne used his recovery to help others, starting a York Street Club weekly AA meeting in which long-sober mentors would encourage those new to the recovery process to stick with it.

"He walked the walk and gave freely of himself," said close friend Fred Tolson.

"He gave freely of what he found" in sobriety to help others recover, and "he did so in an unselfish manner. I know he was very instrumental in my recovery," Tolson said. "He was a man of integrity and character where before there was none. I think he was respected by all who knew him and was a man who made himself approachable. His love for his fellow alcoholic was unconditional."

It was at one of the York Street Club meetings that he met his wife, Catherine, who was beginning her recovery. They were married in 1976.

"I thought he was cute and, apparently, he thought I was, too," she said.

Mr. Payne also was a self-taught engineer and held a number of patents for his inventions, including his first manufactured product, a horn-and-light device for bicycles.

He also is survived by a son, Coleman Payne, of Los Angeles.

Services were held Feb. 23 at Rundus Funeral Home in Broomfield.

Donations may be sent to the Cat Care Society, 5787 W. Sixth Ave., Lakewood, CO 80214.

ablec@rockymountainnews.com or 303-954-5020