Charles C. Runion

Oct. 30, 2014

Mr. Charles Clinton Runion, age 91, a resident of 317 Fairview Ave., Washington, NC died Thursday October 30, 2014 at his home.

A graveside funeral service will be held 3 p.m. Monday November 3, 2014 at Oakdale Cemetery of Washington officiated by Travis Boyd.  Members of the Fleet Reserve Association 204 will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday November 2, 2014 at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington and other times at the home.

Mr. Runion was born in Erwin, TN son of the late George Arlee Runion and the late Sarah Edyth Tucker Runion.  He married the former Millicent Holmes on August 18, 1956 who preceded him in death on June 11, 2006.   On June 21, 2008 he married Emma Allen who survives.  Following high school he entered the U.S. Navy where he served twenty-four years, earning the rank of Chief Petty Officer Aviation Pilot and receiving many medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from World War II.  He flew in the Berlin Airlift and transported many VIP’s including President Ford, Jackie Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, congressmen including Hubert Humphrey, and Marilyn Monroe.  Following his military career, he worked for the N.C. Forestry Sevice for five years, flying air tankers and serving as lead pilot.  Afterwards, he worked for 17 years as a corporate pilot for Hackney & Sons.  During his career, he logged more than 32,000 flying hours, piloting 85 different aircraft ranging from small biplanes to DC-3 transports.  At the age of eighty-eight, he was still flying.  He was a member of Wanoca Presbyterian Church of Washington.

Surviving along with his wife Emma Allen are four children: Charles C. Runion, Jr. of Sunny Hills, FL, Kira Schadegg and husband Robert of Huntingdon Valley, PA, George Brett Runion and wife Laura of Auburn, AL and Kamela Edwards and husband Jeffrey of Chapel Hill; two step children: Becky Perkinson and husband Phil of Washington and Buster Allen and wife Becky of Raleigh; a brother: Tommy Runion of Erwin, TN; eight grandchildren: Christina Runion, Teresa Dawn Pries, Brenna Kling, Kellan Schadegg, Jesse Runion, Morgan Edwards, Erika Edwards, and Alexandra Edwards; four step grandchildren: Ashley Perkinson Jones, Rachel Perkinson, Taylor Allen Matheson, and Hunter Allen; and two great grandchildren: Lauren Sluder and Chucky Runion.

Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions may be made to Wanoca Presbyterian Church, 921 East 6th Street Washington, NC 27889 or the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL (800-327-5002).

Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Runion family.