| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 44, 181, 221, 223.
- [S120] A Place Called Home: Our Story, David L. Popiel, Duay O'Neil, et. al., (2006, The Newport Plain Talk / Jones Media Inc.), dpopiel@xtn.net., 74.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 25 Jun 2005.
Charles S. Runnion Jr., 83, died on Saturday, June 25, 2005, at Johnson City Medical Center following a brief illness. He was graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1943 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a line officer on the USS Crescent City, a troop transport involved in most of the major landings in the South Pacific.
After being discharged from the Navy, he was an owner of C.E. McNabb and Son, retiring in 1992, when the clothing store closed after eighty years of continuous operation.
He was long involved in community activities. He was Director of the National Bank of Tennessee and member of the Board of the Newport Housing Authority since its inception in 1970 and currently served as its Chairman, a position he held for the past fifteen years.
He was past President of the Newport Kiwanis Club where he held 56 years of perfect attendance. He was a past President of the Smoky Mountain Country Club and a Board member of the Senior Citizen Home Assistance Service. At the time of his death, he was Treasurer of the Church of the Annunciation, a position he held for thirty years.
Predeceasing him have been a son, Carl McNabb (Chip) Runnion; parents, Charles S. and Maye Burnett Runnion; grandparents, Thomas Stokely and Mildred Freeman Runnion and James H. and Lena Wells Burnett.
He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Beth McNabb Runnion; a son, Charles S. (Trey) Runnion, III, and his wife, Joan; granddaughters, Brooke Runnion, Kansas City, Missouri, and Alison Runion, Huntington Beach, California; grandson, John D. (Chip) Runnion, Kansas City, Missouri; brother, James B. Runnion, and wife, Jo; nieces, Cindie Runnion, Newport, and Vicki Runnion, Louisville, Kentucky.
A remembrance of a life well-lived will be held at the Church of the Annunciation at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28th, with Father David Garrett officiating assisted by Deacon Steve Thompson.
The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall of the church from 4-7:00 p.m. prior to the service.
A private committal will be held at Union Cemetery on Wednesday morning.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Church of the Annunciation, P.O. Box 337, Newport, Tennessee 37822, or the charity of your choice.
Manes Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 28 Jun 2005.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
06-28-2005
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Charles Stokely Runnion, Jr. retired Newport businessman, bank director, and community volunteer known for his half-century of perfect attendance at the Newport Kiwanis Club, died Saturday afternoon.
Although Runnion had suffered with some heart ailments he had enjoyed good health in recent years. He became ill last week and was taken to Johnson City Medical Center where he died Saturday afternoon. He was 83 years old.
National Bank of Tenn. Board Chair Fred M. Valentine Jr. served at the bank with Runnion for about 40 years. ¡§Charles was our senior director. He had been at the bank more years than anyone¡Vsince 1965.¡¨
¡§He was extremely great to work with and was always for the right thing and active in all roles at the bank¡Von audit and executive committees. He was involved in everything,¡¨ said Dr. Valentine, who has been a director since 1966.
¡§Charles S. was a visionary¡Veven at his age he was looking to the future always wanting to see new ideas and ways in place. He was never one to rest on his laurels. We have been extremely fortunate to have him here. We will miss him. He leaves a void that will be difficult to fill,¡¨ said Dr. Valentine.
National Bank of Tenn. President Keith Ketterman said he was saddened by the news of fellow director Runnion¡¦s death.
¡§He was a dedicated board member, always dependable and ready to assist me or anyone at the bank. He was willing to serve on any committee and did. He will be missed¡Vboth his wise counsel and support at the bank,¡¨ said Ketterman.
In recent years, Runnion would spend Wednesdays with bank official Allen Freeman doing real estate and property appraisals for bank loans.
Past Kiwanis Lt. Governor James McSween joined the club in 1958. At that time, Runnion had been a member for several years.
¡§He always exemplified leadership in the club¡¦s purpose to serve young people. I was especially impressed with his intense interest with the Key Clubs at Cocke County High School and Cosby¡Vconstantly encouraging Kiwanians to support these Key Clubs. He never lost sight of the importance of club attendance and enjoyed being at every meeting,¡¨ said McSween.
Runnion believed in and supported good government and spent many years volunteering time on government agency boards, such as Newport Housing Authority (NHA). He chaired that board since 1977 and worked tirelessly to improve housing for the elderly and low-income citizens.
It was during his tenure on the board during 45 years that he supported and worked with NHA on urban development, including the relocation of Cosby Highway, the Newport Community Center, and new US Post Office. He was a leader in the renovation of the Rhea-Mims Hotel in 2002 and Mims Clinic in 2004. His interest in providing opportunities for youth caused the NHA to provide temporary facilities for the Boys & Girls Club.
Newport Interim Mayor Connie Ball said, ¡§Charles Runnion was a true friend to me for over 40 years. His smile and friendly nature will always be remembered. We are losing a great community person that dedicated his life to serving the citizens of Newport and Cocke County. My prayers go out to his family during their great loss.¡¨
Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan said, ¡§When I think of the years of stewardship and dedication he gave to the Kiwanis Club, and especially to our youth through Key Club, I truly stand in awe of my friend, Charles S. His style of leadership, with his not-so-quiet determination tempered with deep-felt compassion for his fellow citizens, was true to the core of this man.
¡§Charles S. set the bar high for all of us individually and as a community. He could motivate folks to take on challenges, to achieve their best, both personally and as a community. He bridged gaps between generations. And he did all this with such style and such class. I am amazed at his courage in conviction and his devotion to his family. I thought of Charles S. as timeless, a man for all ages. And I will truly miss him,¡¨ said McMahan.
NHA Executive Director Leon Bryant said, ¡§It was sad, to say the least, learning of the passing of Mr. Runnion. Having worked with and seen him on a weekly basis for about 35 years, the adjustment will be difficult. My sympathy and prayers to his gracious wife, Beth; son, Trey; brother, Jim; and other family members.
¡§Charles S. was ¡¥Mr. Newport Housing Authority.¡¦ Without his tireless efforts, the NHA, might not have existed. The NHA was chartered by the state on Nov. 25, 1960. Charles S. was a charter member of the board along with Fred L. Myers Sr., W. G. Ottinger, E. H. Kennedy, and Russell S. Bowman. Fred L. Myers Sr. was the original chairman and Charles S. was the vice-chairman. On June 20, 1977, he was elected chairman and served in that capacity until his death. Through the years, NHA grew to 400 apartments.¡¨
Bryant said, ¡§Charles S. was a dear friend, mentor and Christian gentleman. He inspired honesty, integrity, and hard work in managing the NHA. He always jokingly stated if we do anything wrong, ¡¥You will go (walk) before me into the federal prison.¡¦ With his leadership, we never had to be concerned with that possibility.
¡§After a wonderful 83 years, Charles S. has surrendered his earthly board membership. However, I can envision that our Lord and Savior already has appointed him to a heavenly board, possibly chairman, and that he is faithfully going about the task of serving others as he did during his lifetime with us.¡¨
On July 13, 1921 Runnion was born to Charles Stokely Runnion and his wife, Maye Ellen Burnett, who lived at the corner of Woodlawn and Broadway.
He attended Newport Grammar School and graduated from Cocke County High School in 1939. He attended Mars Hill College in North Carolina and graduated in 1941 after which he attended the University of Tenn. at Knoxville. He earned a degree in industrial management graduating in 1943.
During the height of World War II he entered Officers Candidate School at Northwestern University, Chicago, and was commissioned in Nov. 1943. He then served three years in the Navy aboard the troop ship, the USS Crescent City APA 21. The ship was involved in many of the major battle landings during the war in the South Pacific.
During military leave, on December 19, 1944, he married his sweetheart Beth McNabb at First Baptist Church. He often joked that he was just two months older since she was born Sept. 23, 1921. Incidentally, the Newport Kiwanis Club had formed the prior year. She was the daughter of Carl E. McNabb and the former Elizabeth Robinson.
When Charles Runnion returned to Newport, he worked for a time as Veteran¡¦s Service Officer. In 1946, began work at his father-in-law¡¦s store, C. E. McNabb and Sons¡Van established retailer of fine men¡¦s and women¡¦s clothing in downtown Newport. The store¡¦s slogan was: ¡§C. E. McNabb¡¦s, Memorize It.¡¨ Later, the Runnions operated the Main Street store until he retired in 1992 and closed the business after 80 years of continuous operation.
The Runnions¡¦ first child, Charles Stokely Runnion III, ¡§Trey,¡¨ was born Dec. 26, 1947.
Their second child, Carl McNabb ¡§Chip¡¨ Runnion was born July 31, 1950, but was killed in a sledding accident Jan. 13, 1962.
Charles Runnion always had a belief in the vitality of Newport and its people and quickly became involved in community activities. He joined the young Newport Kiwanis Club in 1949 and went on to achieve 56 years of perfect attendance. In 1957 he became club president. During many years he had a keen desire to support and promote the Key Clubs at Cocke County and Cosby schools. He was also a leader in the club¡¦s scholarship program for local youth.
Days before his death he was working with fellow Kiwanians at the Newport Plain Talk to plan for the club¡¦s eighty-fifth anniversary celebration in Sept.
As a young businessman, he watched the opening of the National Bank of Newport in 1957 and in several years joined the board of directors. He was the senior director of National Bank of Tenn, when he died.
When the Newport Housing Authority was chartered in 1960, he was appointed to the board and remained on it until his death as board chair.
He was a past president of the Smoky Mountain Country Club and a board member of Cocke County Senior Home Assistance. He also served as treasurer of the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, an office he held for 30 years. He was also on the Jury Commission.
A remembrance service will be at the church tonight, Tuesday, at 7 p.m. with father David Garrett officiating assisted by Deacon Steve Thompson. Friends may gather at the parish hall from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Burial will be on Wednesday morning at Union Cemetery. Manes Funeral home is in charge of the arrangements.
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