HOT SPRINGS, Va. — Ellis “John” Ray Runyon, 72, of Hot Springs, passed away peacefully at this home on Sunday, March 7, 2010.

He was born July 26, 1937, in Lester, W.Va., the son of the late William Merit Runyon and Allie Carr Runyon.

On April 12, 1961, he married his wife of 48 years, Glenna Green Runyon.

John was a 1957 graduate of Alderson High School in Alderson. He served in the United States Army where he was a medic and played football for the U.S. Army team. He graduated from the Greenbrier Culinary School at The Greenbrier hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1961. He worked at the Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida; The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona; and retired from the Homestead Resort in 1999 with 36 years of service. He sculptured many ice pieces to decorate the tables at the Homestead for dinners, weddings and parties. John never met a stranger and will be remembered by many for his sense of humor. He always had jokes ready to tell. He was a faithful member of the Hot Springs Baptist Church.

He is survived by his loving wife, Glenna Green Runyon of Hot Springs; two daughters, Carolyn Runyon Tingler and husband John of Covington, Va., Nancy Runyon Scyphers and husband Michael of Glen Allen, Va.; two grandsons, Ryan and Justin Scyphers of Glen Allen; three sisters, Mozelle Yates of Hinton, Betty Holliday and husband Bill of Alderson, and Mary Wolf and husband Timothy Dayton of Chesapeake, Va.; a brother, Damon Runyon and wife Ruby of Gauley Bridge; one sister-in-law, Edith Runyon of Union; a brother-in-law, Harlan Phillips of Worthington, Ky.; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, June Phillips, Bonnie Runyon and Charlotte Runyon; four brothers, Earl, Jack, Curtis and James Arthur Runyon; and one brother-in-law, Charles Yates.

Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at the Hot Springs Baptist Church with Pastor Garland Humphries officiating and Pastor David George assisting. Interment will be in the Warm Springs Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Timmy Gibson, Sam Campagna, Sam Phillips, Charles Holliday, Dwayne Harkleroad, Mac Bird and Timothy Dayton. Honorary pallbearers will be Arnold Bradberry and Roger May.

The family will receive friends 7 to 9 p.m. today, Tuesday, at McLauglin and Young Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hot Springs Baptist Church, P.O. Box 993, Hot Springs, VA 24445, or to the Mountain Regional Hospice Volunteers, P.O. Box 637, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.
(Source: Register Herald)