Harry A. Paynter Sr., Air Force colonel

Harry A. Paynter Sr., 87, a retired Air Force colonel who specialized in intelligence work and then became president of a trade group, died Jan. 7 at a nursing facility in Brenham, Tex. He had Alzheimer's disease.

During World War II, Col. Paynter served in the Army Air Forces as a pilot in Europe. He joined the new Air Force in the 1940s and participated in the Berlin Airlift.

His later assignments included assistant air attache at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan and air attache at the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador. His final active-duty assignment, in 1970, was in Vietnam.

After his military retirement, he joined the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association and retired in 1988 as its president. He worked on legislation that helped raise efficiency standards for appliances.

Harry Alvin Paynter was born in Miami, Ariz., and completed high school in Walters, Okla. He was a 1948 graduate of Oklahoma State University and received a master's degree in business administration from Harvard University in 1954. He graduated from the National War College and other military schools.

His decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, four awards of the Air Medal and four awards of the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

In retirement, he enjoyed cruising on the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. He moved to Brenham from Arlington in 2005.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Betty Wilkins Paynter of Brenham; four children, Harry A. Paynter Jr. of Tucson, Steven W. Paynter of Cornelius, N.C., Barbara Barnett of Chappell Hill, Texas, and Susan Paynter of Chatham, Va.; a brother; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

- Adam Bernstein