James Runyan

ROSSVILLE James H. "Jim" Runyan, 78, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2011, in a local hospital.Mr. Runyan was a native and lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and north Georgia areas and was a member and Sunday school teacher at Lakeview First Baptist Church for many years. He was retired from Red Food Stores following 26 years of service and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Jim was a volunteer with the Fort Oglethorpe Fire Department for over 10 years and was a member of the Brainerd Optimist Club. He was also a former deputy with the Catoosa County Sheriff's Department.Mr. Runyan was preceded in death by his wives, Mary Ann Runyan and Beatrice Pittman Runyan; and parents, James H. Runyan Sr., and Viola Mae Runyan. Survivors include his children, Robin Cooley, Rossville, Stephen Runyan, Chattanooga, and Jerry Runyan, Ringgold; stepsons, Houston (Pat) Bennett, Chattanooga, and Eugene (Lynn) Stephens, Dunlap, Tenn.; sisters, Barbara (Robert) Corbin, Rossville and Carolyn (Ewell) Beaty, Huntsville, Ala.; grandchildren, Todd Cooley, Rossville, Rachel (Ed) Runyan Clark, Chickamauga, Devin Runyan, Ringgold and Kelsey Runyan, Chattanooga; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the South Crest Chapel with the Rev. Casey Hughes officiating.Burial will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, South. Ed Clark, Josh Walker, Houston Bennett, Robert Corbin, Ewell Beaty and James Herbert McWhorter will serve as pallbearers.Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Fort Oglethorpe Fire Department.To share condolences, visit www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. Friday until the funeral hour at the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, Rossville.