Robert B. Runyan

Robert B. Runyan, age 68, of Fort Worth, Texas died January 6, 2012 at Butner, North Carolina. He was born on October 25, 1943 at Kansas City, MO, the son of Ward Boyd and Bernice Allene Runyan. He attended Louisburg Elementary school through the fifth grade. The family moved to Paola, Kansas where he graduated from Paola High School in 1961. Bob was active in school activities, lettered three years in football and played in the band. He then attended Pittsburgh State College and graduated in 1965. He was a distinguished Military Student and served as president of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity. He entered the Army as a 2nd Lt. in January 1966. He graduated from Armored Officers Basic Course and U.S. Army Helicopter Flight School. He served in Vietnam during 1967 and 1968 as a platoon leader in A Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, First Calvary. He received several decorations including the Bronze Star, 20 Air Medals, Presidential Unity Citation, Distinguished Unit Citation and three Campaign ribbons. He was promoted to a Captain in 18 months. Upon leaving active duty, he remained in the Texas National Guard flying with the 536th (Hook Masters) Aviation Company in command of a CH Chinook Helicopter platoon. He also served in the G-2 Dept. (intelligence) as a Staff Officer to the Texas Adjutant General retiring as a Major. After military service he worked as a medical supply salesman. He was founder and partner in United Medical Supply Co. of Fort Worth, Texas which had branches in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. After semi-retiring he formed Gammon Technologies, a computer company he ran for 12 years. His last years were spent teaching history at the Federal Correctional Institute in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by one sister, Ann Miranda and husband Francis; one niece, Sara Miranda; and two nephews Sam and Bill Miranda all of Dallas, Texas. Memorial contributions may be given to the VFW Post 3712 c/o Alan Bal, 200 W. Delaware St. Paola, KS 66071 or The Louisburg Library Dist. # 1. Louisburg, KS 66053. First Christian Church 602 N. First Street Louisburg, KS 66053 Service: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 2:00 PM Visitation: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM