Gloria M. Runyan
Gloria M. Runyan, 73, went to be with our Lord on Thursday
(June 18, 2009).
She was born April 8, 1936, in Ponca City, Okla., to Maye
and Archie Young.
She attended Ponca City schools and graduated from State
Beauty School in Ponca City in 1968. She was a daycare provider early in her
adult life, then worked as a cosmetologist. She was an entrepreneur, starting
and running her own business, Sun-Tana, then April Dawn Tanning and Beauty
Salon.
On June 14, 1953, she married James A. Runyan, who survives.
She also is survived by daughters, Diana Thacker and Gina Runyan, and son,
Darren Runyan, and his wife, Tammy, all of Newton.
She has five grandchildren, Caden and Shaylynn Runyan, Tyler
and Alex Thacker and Lance Tuttle; and great-granddaughter, Adysson Tuttle.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter,
April, and her son, Tony.
Gloria was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church in Newton.
She enjoyed flower and produce gardening, as well as cooking, reading, movies
with her grandchildren and writing poetry. She was an accomplished cook and
gardener and loved to share the fruits of both with those near her. Her
grandchildren were her greatest source of enjoyment, and she attended every
sport, music and school event possible.
A celebration of Gloria's life will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at
Immanuel Baptist Church in Newton with fellowship to follow at the church.
Memorials may be sent to Immanuel Baptist Church of Newton,
1515 N. Anderson Road, Newton, KS 67114, or to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice,
427 S.E. Second St., Newton, KS 67114.