Hollister businessman and community leader Delmer F. Paine passed away April 22 at William Inez Mabie Skilled Nursing Facility at the age of 85.
A native of Whitefish, Mont., Mr. Paine came to San Benito County in 1933. His education was received at Serra High School in Hollister and at St. Mary’s College in Moraga. Delmer and his late brother Leroy owned and operated Paine’s Restaurant in Hollister. Leroy passed away in 1975 and Delmer continued the operation until he retired in 1980.
Delmer was a captain in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving in the South Pacific. A member of VFW Post 9242 of Hollister, he was also a member and past Exalted Ruler of Hollister Lodge number 1436 BPOE, the ICF, San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, the Hollister Downtown Association, Sacred Heart Parish and a member of the former 20/30 Club and the Junior Chamber of Commerce.
He and his brother sponsored the Paine’s Softball Tournament each summer during the 1950s and 1960s which attracted many teams.
His family describes him as a man who enjoyed travel, a loving husband, father and grandfather. His priorities in life were family, God and country.
Delmer is survived by his wife, June; daughters Marti Seminoff and husband Craig of Sacramento, Alice Reed of Hollister, Nancy Paine of Hollister, and Janet French and husband, Mitt, of Tres Pinos; grandchildren Jeremy Seminoff and wife Tomomi; Molly West and husband, Jeremy, Amy Donati and husband, Adam, Cara McVey and husband, David, Annessa Miguel; Jessica and Elliot French; great-grandchildren Timothy and Rina Seminoff; Samuel and Joel West; sister Gloria Buckingham of Hollister; sisters-in-law Elverna Paine and Jennie Paine; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers Louis Paine and Leroy Paine and his sister Violet McKone.
Visitation will be held at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home on Tuesday from noon until 8 p.m. Family and friends will leave the mortuary chapel on Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. for Mass at Sacred Heart Church at 10 a.m., followed by an immediate memorial service given by the Elks Lodge. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to Sacred Heart School Foundation or to a favorite charity care of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
