Grady Fenton Runyan Sr.

Grady Fenton Runyan Sr., age 85, died Monday, May 13, 2013. He was born in Arkadelphia, November 15, 1927, the son of Lonzo West and Ada Adell Buck Runyan. He was a decorated WWII Veteran earning the Victory Medal and Army of Occupation Medal for his service in the Army during the occupation of Japan. Grady was employed by Hardman Lumber Company for 42 years before retiring in 1994. Upon his retirement from Hardman's he was elected Clark County Judge and served two terms in that position, after which he returned to work at Hardman's on part-time until 2009. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church where he served as Deacon and he was a Gideon. He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Thomas Lonzo Runyan, four brothers, Willie, Otis, Granvill, and Jessie Runyan, four sisters, Ina Shaw, Cornelia Wisdom, Effie Glover, and Lois Medlock. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carrie Thomasene Bell Runyan, three sons, Fenton (Diane) Runyan, Clifford (Lisa) Runyan, Phillip (Diane) Runyan, two daughters, Dell (Rodney) Beene, Kathy (Mark) Batson, 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16 at Third Street Baptist Church in Arkadelphia with Brother Richard Price and Dr. John Small officiating. Burial will be in the Unity Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home. Grandsons will be pallbearers. Sign on-line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com.