Howard G. Runyon ~ 1889-1911

RUNYON, SHUSTER

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/19/2002 at 09:54:45

Howard G. Runyon

Eldest of three sons of A.J. and Vina Runyon was born May 31, 1889, and passed away in the arms of his wife and mother and surrounded by loved ones Sabbath evening May 7th, aged nearly 22 years, the innocent victim of a tragedy that has caused the deepest grief in the homes that will wait in vain for his footstep.

Howard’s marriage to Miss Bessie Shuster occurred at Keokuk, Iowa, July 9, 1910, and in speaking of his life we remember Howard as a jolly light hearted boy, a favorite with his companions, his merry whistle as he went about his daily work was the outward expression of a nature whose influence was felt in the home circle for there he was the comforter in sorrow.
We recall the day he brought his young bride and how happily they planned for the future, on the farm they occupied but a brief time, when asked on evening his face flushed with the heat and toil of the day, his hands showing marks of the work that was a labor of love for his own, how he and Bessie liked the farm he replied, Oh just fine, adding we’ve had bad luck, lost our first incubator hatch of chicks and our little pigs, but we are going to try again and I know we will get along all right. So in the presence of losses his buoyancy was infectious and he could smile through tears in the hope of a brighter future. From the little church at Vernon where he was a member of the Young Men’s class at Sabbath School the funeral was held Wednesday P.m., the pastor Rev. Taylor delivered a most touching sermon upon the tragedy that caused Howard’s untimely death. A select choir – Etta Weaver, Bessie Kemp, Alma Marriott, S.B. de Hart, and Otto Bostock with Miss Nellie Marriott organist rendered in an impressive manner favorite songs. Sherman de Hart’s solo “One Sweetly Solemn Thought,” was very beautiful and in the evening of a May day beneath a mantle of beautiful flowers the casket was borne to the Vernon cemetery for interment.

To the heart broken young wife, mother and father and relatives the sympathy of the entire community is extended with the thought that He alone who is able to comfort, will sustain them in the loss of their son and husband and though we may not understand the dealings of our Fathers hand, we know to all He holds the key, He understands each mystery.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings