William C. Runkle

William C. “Bill” Runkle, age 79, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 12:20 P.M. on Friday, September 25, 2009, at Bryan Care and Rehabilitation Center, Bryan, Ohio, where he was a patient. Mr. Runkle was a 1947 graduate of Sandusky High School and was a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Korea from 1951-1952. A plumber by trade, Mr. Runkle moved to Bryan in 1956 and began working for Calvin and Gotshall Plumbing and Heating into the early 60s. In 1963, he started Runkle Plumbing and Heating in Bryan and continued this business until 1981. During this time he also worked for Anderson-Vreeland from 1966-1972. He was an assistant scoutmaster with Boy Scout Troop 131 in the 1960s and 1970s and served with the Bryan Police Reserves in the 1970s. He was a member of the Bryan City Council from 1974-1977, serving as its president in 1977. He was then elected mayor of Bryan in 1978 and served in that capacity for twenty-four years, retiring in 2001. As mayor, he traveled thousands of miles with his trademark Dum Dum suckers in his pocket and brought millions of dollars to Bryan for city improvements. During his tenure as mayor, he married 1,264 couples, was a member the Williams County Mayors Association and the Ohio State Mayors Association, of which he served as president for one year. He served as Trustee for two years with the Ohio Municipal League and was past Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Retired Ohio Municipal Electric Association. He was also a member of the Maumee Planning Organization Association, serving as vice chairman for eleven years. Mr. Runkle was a member of the First Church of Christ in Bryan, where he served as an elder and deacon for many years. He was a life member of the Bryan VFW Post #2489 and AmVets Post #94 and was a 50-year member and Past Commander of Bryan American Legion Post #284. He was a past member of the Bryan Moose Lodge #1004 and Bryan Eagles, Aerie #2233. William C. Runkle was born on October 13, 1929, in Green Springs, Ohio, the son of Stanley and Viola (Robinson) Runkle. He married Marvel Ernsberger on June 6, 1953, in Bryan,Ohio, and she preceded him in death in 1994. Mr. Runkle is survived by two sons, Kenneth M. (Kay) Runkle, of Powell, Ohio, and David W. (Pamela) Runkle, of Catonsville, Maryland, one daughter, Catherine E. Shell, of Bryan, Ohio, his grandchildren, Joshua, Mary, Christine and Anna Runkle, Amber (Sam) Grammar, Laura (Jason) Jordan, Emily (Christopher) Hogsten, Meredith Runkle, Anthony Shell and Chad Stantz, and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother, Tom Runkle, three sisters, Pat VanDooting, Margaret “Peg” Kaufman and Sally Brennan, all of Sandusky, Ohio. Visitation for William C. Runkle will be held on Friday, October 2, 2009, from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, Ohio. Services will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at 11:00 A.M. in the First Church of Christ, Bryan, Ohio, with Pastor Jon List officiating. Interment will follow in Fountain Grove Cemetery in Bryan with grave side military rites conducted by VFW Post #2489. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to be given to Bryan Parks and Recreation, Mayor Runkle Memorial Clock Fund.