The Candy Man: ‘It’s just who he is’
Ed Payne’s brilliant, giving heart has shone through the fog of dementia as he has passed out sweet bits of candy-sized kindness to everyone.
Known as The Candy Man, he has made daily rounds from his apartment at Stork Place for several years. Open bag of candy in hand, he’d offer a piece to anyone he met. If you said no thank you, he’d insist. If you followed that with “no, I’m good,” he’d counter with his trademark, “well, if you’re good then you get a piece of candy.”
Ed’s friendly insistence usually ended up winning everyone over.
A quiet man most of his life, that heart of generosity has been consistent. According to his daughters, when he worked as an electrician at Farbest, he would regularly buy turkeys and all the fixings to deliver to families around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
While attending Dale Bible Church, he began passing around pieces of candy. He’d hand out Smarties and joke that people needed to be smarter. “Then, he’d follow up with some Dum Dums to counteract the Smarties,” Ed’s daughter, Julie Eckert, said.
When Ed’s dementia brought on forgetfulness, he and his wife Shirley moved into Stork Place in Huntingburg — they were the very first residents when it opened in 2011. Soon after, Shirley was transferred to the Good Samaritan Society Northwood Retirement Community in Jasper, and Ed took his sweetened generosity there where he would walk the halls passing out candy to the residents.
The Candy Man’s rounds became routine and when Shirley passed in 2014, Ed began walking around Huntingburg three and four times a day. Roaming as far north as Sheldon’s, he would meet and talk to anyone on the street offering up his little plastic bag filled with an assortment of candies.
He also made friends with the business owners and would keep them on his rounds, stopping in and offering pieces of candy with his trademark grin and a few kind words of insistence.
His work caused him to spend $60 to $100 a week on candy at the Family Dollar store in Huntingburg. As the story of his generosity and kindness grew, one of the employees there began setting aside a couple bags of hard candies for him as a donation.
Along with his regular Huntingburg routes, his daughters would take him to St. Vincent de Paul in Jasper where he would hand out candy to customers.
Julie said that when she’s asked him about his generosity, he simply says, “I just love people. I like to make them happy.”
She thinks his early life and acceptance of Christ at the age of 14 instilled that love in his heart.
“My dad grew up poor,” Julie explained. “I tend to think poor people are some of the most giving people. Dad would give money away to people. Or he would give food. He’s always done that.”
Over the years as dementia ate his memory, Ed’s generous essence increased and the rounds have become his work. He jokes that if he can’t do it, he’ll be fired. That unabashed and authentic love for people wins everyone over one piece of candy at a time.
The Candy Man is dying.
As Covid-19 shut the county down, Ed’s children posted news stories and notes in his apartment so he would understand why he couldn’t make his rounds anymore.
Julie would visit there 85-year-old father and take him for walks just so he could get out and about though the candy was left behind. “Slowly day after day I noticed he couldn’t breathe very well,” she said.
One day they barely got two blocks when Ed became so winded he couldn’t go any further. So she and her sister, Sharlene Schitter, took him to the doctor.
They found three masses in his lungs, stage 4 lung cancer. Ed says he wants to let it run its course. He’s chosen to go into hospice.
“My dad has never complained a day in his life,” Ed’s daughter, Debbie Smith, said.
“I remember when we were young, my parents may have had only had one meal a day just to be sure we (kids) were fed and he never complained,” Julie added.
Well, he does complain a little about not being able to go hand out candy right now. So, Julie and her siblings have decided to set up a special event for The Candy Man.
On Saturday, May 16, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., The Candy Man will be handing out bags of candy. The public is invited to drive up to The Stork Place apartments at the Van Buren Street entrance and Ed will be there waiting with bags Julie and her siblings are putting together with a special message from The Candy Man. Anyone coming by is asked to stay in their cars.
Ed also loves receiving cards. If you want to send him one the address is:
402 N. Van Buren apt. 100
Huntingburg, IN 47542
Since the recent announcement about his special event, Ed’s mailbox has been stuffed with cards from people he’s impacted over the years. Julie said he’s so excited to open up his mailbox each day as more and more cards have come in as a return for all the little bits of joy he’s handed out over the years.
He just loves people and he loves making them smile.
It’s just who he is.
Ed’s children are Pam Payne, Debbie Smith, Sharlene Schitter, Julie Eckert, Edward Payne, Jon Payne, and Kevin Payne.
He came in Fat & Sassy, where I worked, and gave us all candy. He was a very friendly person and always jolly. Hope all goes well for him. Prayers.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ed a few years ago and just loved his sweetie and kind ways. Yes I took candy when he offer. He is a great man and I’m so sorry for what he is going threw. God bless this man.
I remember Ed from the old softball days. Up in north wood park. He has always been a very happy person and a special man!
From Arlene Wagner
Dearest Ed “The Candy Man” and Family:
Good things come to good people! Definitely his faith shows thru everyday with all he does.
When I first met him years ago I saw immediately how nice he is but at the time I wasn’t eating
sugar so I always said “no thanks I’m good” and he would say just what the article says “if you are good then
you should get a piece of candy” right? Well it only took a year or so later of him coming into the
office until I couldn’t resist any longer. Then I started looking forward to seeing him everyday
and what kind of candy he would have with him. Then our location moved the first of this year and
we didn’t get to see him anymore. We all talk about him wondering how he is doing and we miss
seeing him.
GOD Bless you ED and You all are in my prayers!
Teresa Morrison
I had the privilege to serve him as his pastor. What a great guy! Heaven’s gain will be our loss!!
This world could use a few more wonderful people like Mr. Payne. The Candy Man will leave a legacy of kindness and generosity for years to come. Everyone has their favorite Candy Man story. God bless you.
I don’t know Ed but I can’t wait to go buy him a card tomorrow. What a wonderful story in these troubling times and to hear of Ed’s generosity and giving heart is so wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
He is my grandpa. I am one of many grand children. When I was young, elementary school age, I couldn’t wait to go get my school supplies. He and Grandma would buy school supplies for all of us, then let us know when we could come over. They would set them up all over the living room for us to pick out what we wanted. He would always be there with a big smile on his face. He just exudes happiness and kindness. I love him very much and will miss him. I know he will be with Grandma soon. That is right where he belongs, at her side.
Such a nice man. Every time I went shopping in Huntingburg I would see him he always gave me Candy and talk a little. So sorry he is going thru this
Ed Payne is my dad and he is everything and more that this article has told you. Thanks to Matt for coming to hear his story….our story of how he has impacted everyone who knows him. I want to also say thank you to all the people who have found love or even just a great liking to my father. I have always loved him because he’s my dad. But I love him even more as an adult and realizing how wonderful he is. Thanks again from all of our family.
I had the great pleasure to meet The Candy Man when I moved to town a few years back. He reminds us adults what it feels like to be a kid again. The kids on my block eagerly waited for him to get to their stop. I loved seeing that.
Ed is the Candyman indeed I first met him at Jasper St Vincent de Paul he was handing out candy my daughter Cathy Futrell told me to go ahead and take it his warm smile and loving heart made him so very special. May God be with you Ed you are loved. Signed Judith Thomas and Cathy Futrell and David Futrell. Love you
I also have a fondness for your Dad..Pam..Julie .Debbie n the rest of his children who r going thru his illness..I have appreciated also seeing his sweet ..nice smile when I would c him in town n offer me candy..n yes..even tho I’ve tried 2 stay away from sweets he was pretty persistent.
N irresistible..I have prayed for all of U.. him also..mayb GOD will let us have him a long time..n grant him healing.. Thanks for the nice story.
N for sharing..
The Candy Man is showing a perfect example of agape love. Agape love is God’s love.
Mr. Payne shows the love of God through his actions. The article and the comments are filled with examples of his kindness, generosity, and love for others. He doesn’t expect anything in return.
Walking as much as he did to share a smile and a piece of candy with friends couldn’t have been easy for him. But he went anyway, that’s agape love.
Mr. Candy Man, you can rest easy now your friends are happy.
May God be with you and your family on your journey home.
As the saying says God takes the best and he is definitely one best person I have the honor of meeting. Yes it’s sad that one day he will be gone but we will never forget this special guy.
My husband and I met the candy man while wandering through the shops on Main Street in Huntingburg. Such a sweet man. I’m sure he will be sadly missed by all. Prayers for Ed’s family and close friends that God give you peace and comfort. May God bless you Ed as you have blessed your community. Thank you for your kindness and spreading happiness.