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Runyon was born Oct. 31, 1930, in Glen Ridge, N.J., son of Mefford Ross Runyon and Janet Benson, both of New Jersey. He was raised on Shippan Point in Stamford and later Darien. He graduated from Phillips Academy Andover in 1949, and Dartmouth College in 1953, where he was a brother of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
In 1952, Runyon worked as a cabin boy at York’s Log Village in Rangeley, Maine. After college, he enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps, did basic training and led advanced warfare instruction at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was discharged with the rank of captain.
In November 1954 the Runyons moved to Westport, then to West Grove, Pa., and then back to Westport. He worked the first half of his career with mainframe computers doing data processing for the Columbia Broadcasting System, Sikorsky Aircraft and Emery Air Freight. He worked a variety of jobs, including bus driver and milkman, before he joined the U.S. Postal Service, from which he retired in 1995.
He was a devoted member of the Salisbury Congregational Church, as well as the Lions Club, Rotary International and Saint Andrews Society. Runyon is survived by his wife, Phebe of Middlebury; daughter, Anne; son, Will of Katonah, N.Y.; son, Jim of Benicia, Calif.; daughter, Phebe of Suwanee, Ga.; and 10 grandchildren. He was predeceased by son, John.
Services will be held at a later date and burial will follow in the Farmingdale Veterans Cemetery in Middlebury.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home.
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