Edward Arlington Runyan died peacefully in his home in Fort Collins, Colo. on October 19, 2011 surrounded by members of his loving family. He and his wife, Dell Runyan, moved to Fort Collins in 2008 from Marion, Ky., where he had spent most of his life when not in military service.
He was born on July 29, 1918 in Ashland, Ala. to William Winford Runyan and Ruth Manning Runyan, but was raised by his grandparents on a small cotton farm. Later, he attended high school in Marion, Kentucky, and after graduation he was drafted into the US Army early in 1941.
After various assignments he became the Personnel Officer of the 261st Infantry Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division. Serving in combat in Patton's famed Third Army from January until May of 1945 in France, Germany, and Austria, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal. After the war he served as a reserve officer, but was called back to active duty as a staff officer during the Korean War, serving at General Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
After the war he resumed civilian life, but returned to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62, commanding an armor unit at Fort Knox, Ky. He retired from the military in 1964 with twenty years service, having received 10 decorations and medals, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. In 1963 he was appointed a Postmaster in the US Post Office Department, a post he held until his retirement in 1980.
During the course of his life he was a Freemason for 62 years, a member of the American Legion for 67 years, as well the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Marion city council, president of his Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow, taught Sunday school class and was a supporter of many charities. He had an encyclopedic knowledge and love of automobiles of the 1920s and 30s, and was a master gardener through his last year. He lived a long, rich life of happiness and optimism. His cheerful demeanor and gregarious personality enabled him to make friends quickly--even at his advanced age in a new town, when he moved to Fort Collins, at the age of 89. He passed away serenely satisfied that he had won life's great victory: to have loved and been loved long and deeply.
His wife, Maggie Dell Forman Runyan, a native of Amite County, Mississippi, his older brother, Charles W. Runyan of Georgia, and his sons, William E. Runyan of Fort Collins, Colo., and C. Stanley Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., survive him. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, David W. Runyan of Queens, N.Y., Jonathan E. Runyan of Portland, Ore., C. Benjamin Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., Abigail Mason Romanul of Boston, Mass., and Allison Elizabeth Ahlm of Fort Collins, Colo. He was loved by his daughters-in-law, Prudence Mason Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., and Myra H. Monfort of Fort Collins. Two great-grandchildren survive: Stella A. and M. Griffin Runyan of New York City.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24, at the Allnutt Drake Chapel. Interment will be in Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, Ky.,
He was born on July 29, 1918 in Ashland, Ala. to William Winford Runyan and Ruth Manning Runyan, but was raised by his grandparents on a small cotton farm. Later, he attended high school in Marion, Kentucky, and after graduation he was drafted into the US Army early in 1941.
After various assignments he became the Personnel Officer of the 261st Infantry Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division. Serving in combat in Patton's famed Third Army from January until May of 1945 in France, Germany, and Austria, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal. After the war he served as a reserve officer, but was called back to active duty as a staff officer during the Korean War, serving at General Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
After the war he resumed civilian life, but returned to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62, commanding an armor unit at Fort Knox, Ky. He retired from the military in 1964 with twenty years service, having received 10 decorations and medals, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. In 1963 he was appointed a Postmaster in the US Post Office Department, a post he held until his retirement in 1980.
During the course of his life he was a Freemason for 62 years, a member of the American Legion for 67 years, as well the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Marion city council, president of his Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow, taught Sunday school class and was a supporter of many charities. He had an encyclopedic knowledge and love of automobiles of the 1920s and 30s, and was a master gardener through his last year. He lived a long, rich life of happiness and optimism. His cheerful demeanor and gregarious personality enabled him to make friends quickly--even at his advanced age in a new town, when he moved to Fort Collins, at the age of 89. He passed away serenely satisfied that he had won life's great victory: to have loved and been loved long and deeply.
His wife, Maggie Dell Forman Runyan, a native of Amite County, Mississippi, his older brother, Charles W. Runyan of Georgia, and his sons, William E. Runyan of Fort Collins, Colo., and C. Stanley Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., survive him. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, David W. Runyan of Queens, N.Y., Jonathan E. Runyan of Portland, Ore., C. Benjamin Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., Abigail Mason Romanul of Boston, Mass., and Allison Elizabeth Ahlm of Fort Collins, Colo. He was loved by his daughters-in-law, Prudence Mason Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., and Myra H. Monfort of Fort Collins. Two great-grandchildren survive: Stella A. and M. Griffin Runyan of New York City.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24, at the Allnutt Drake Chapel. Interment will be in Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, Ky.,
Edward Arlington Runyan died peacefully in his home in Fort Collins, Colo. on October 19, 2011 surrounded by members of his loving family. He and his wife, Dell Runyan, moved to Fort Collins in 2008 from Marion, Ky., where he had spent most of his life when not in military service.
He was born on July 29, 1918 in Ashland, Ala. to William Winford Runyan and Ruth Manning Runyan, but was raised by his grandparents on a small cotton farm. Later, he attended high school in Marion, Kentucky, and after graduation he was drafted into the US Army early in 1941.
After various assignments he became the Personnel Officer of the 261st Infantry Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division. Serving in combat in Patton's famed Third Army from January until May of 1945 in France, Germany, and Austria, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal. After the war he served as a reserve officer, but was called back to active duty as a staff officer during the Korean War, serving at General Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
After the war he resumed civilian life, but returned to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62, commanding an armor unit at Fort Knox, Ky. He retired from the military in 1964 with twenty years service, having received 10 decorations and medals, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. In 1963 he was appointed a Postmaster in the US Post Office Department, a post he held until his retirement in 1980.
During the course of his life he was a Freemason for 62 years, a member of the American Legion for 67 years, as well the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Marion city council, president of his Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow, taught Sunday school class and was a supporter of many charities. He had an encyclopedic knowledge and love of automobiles of the 1920s and 30s, and was a master gardener through his last year. He lived a long, rich life of happiness and optimism. His cheerful demeanor and gregarious personality enabled him to make friends quickly--even at his advanced age in a new town, when he moved to Fort Collins, at the age of 89. He passed away serenely satisfied that he had won life's great victory: to have loved and been loved long and deeply.
His wife, Maggie Dell Forman Runyan, a native of Amite County, Mississippi, his older brother, Charles W. Runyan of Georgia, and his sons, William E. Runyan of Fort Collins, Colo., and C. Stanley Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., survive him. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, David W. Runyan of Queens, N.Y., Jonathan E. Runyan of Portland, Ore., C. Benjamin Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., Abigail Mason Romanul of Boston, Mass., and Allison Elizabeth Ahlm of Fort Collins, Colo. He was loved by his daughters-in-law, Prudence Mason Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., and Myra H. Monfort of Fort Collins. Two great-grandchildren survive: Stella A. and M. Griffin Runyan of New York City.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24, at the Allnutt Drake Chapel. Interment will be in Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, Ky.,
He was born on July 29, 1918 in Ashland, Ala. to William Winford Runyan and Ruth Manning Runyan, but was raised by his grandparents on a small cotton farm. Later, he attended high school in Marion, Kentucky, and after graduation he was drafted into the US Army early in 1941.
After various assignments he became the Personnel Officer of the 261st Infantry Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division. Serving in combat in Patton's famed Third Army from January until May of 1945 in France, Germany, and Austria, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal. After the war he served as a reserve officer, but was called back to active duty as a staff officer during the Korean War, serving at General Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
After the war he resumed civilian life, but returned to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961-62, commanding an armor unit at Fort Knox, Ky. He retired from the military in 1964 with twenty years service, having received 10 decorations and medals, as well as the Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters. In 1963 he was appointed a Postmaster in the US Post Office Department, a post he held until his retirement in 1980.
During the course of his life he was a Freemason for 62 years, a member of the American Legion for 67 years, as well the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a member of the Marion city council, president of his Rotary Club and a Paul Harris fellow, taught Sunday school class and was a supporter of many charities. He had an encyclopedic knowledge and love of automobiles of the 1920s and 30s, and was a master gardener through his last year. He lived a long, rich life of happiness and optimism. His cheerful demeanor and gregarious personality enabled him to make friends quickly--even at his advanced age in a new town, when he moved to Fort Collins, at the age of 89. He passed away serenely satisfied that he had won life's great victory: to have loved and been loved long and deeply.
His wife, Maggie Dell Forman Runyan, a native of Amite County, Mississippi, his older brother, Charles W. Runyan of Georgia, and his sons, William E. Runyan of Fort Collins, Colo., and C. Stanley Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., survive him. In addition, he is survived by grandchildren, David W. Runyan of Queens, N.Y., Jonathan E. Runyan of Portland, Ore., C. Benjamin Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., Abigail Mason Romanul of Boston, Mass., and Allison Elizabeth Ahlm of Fort Collins, Colo. He was loved by his daughters-in-law, Prudence Mason Runyan of Philadelphia, Pa., and Myra H. Monfort of Fort Collins. Two great-grandchildren survive: Stella A. and M. Griffin Runyan of New York City.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, October 24, at the Allnutt Drake Chapel. Interment will be in Mapleview Cemetery in Marion, Ky.,
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