The family of Miss Ruth Alberta Runyan announces with profound regret and sadness her death. She was 99 years old. This sad event occurred early Thursday morning, July 30, 2009 at Miss Runyans home of 84 years. Her demise occurred in her sleep in the identical bed of her birth. Miss Runyan, the last living Runyan of the Bayou Chico Runyan family was born on December 10, 1909 at Bayou Chico in Pensacola, Escambia County, FL. She was the youngest of five daughters of the union of Albert Harkley Runyan and Ruth Lillian White. Miss Runyan proudly attended and graduated from Florida State College for Women at Tallahassee, FL the predecessor to Florida State University. She returned home to teach at Liza Jane Wilson Elementary School, and at its closing thereafter Semmes Elementary School for forty years. Miss Runyan leaves to mourn her loss a nephew, Haywood Ruffin Thornton, Jr. of St. Cloud, FL; two great nephews, Harkley Runyan Thornton of Orlando, FL and Thornton Lewis Rogers of Pensacola, FL; two great great nieces, Gatlin Elaine Thornton and Chaney Belle Thornton of Orlando, FL; a great great nephew, Harrison Rhett Thornton of Orlando, FL, and a host a host of former students and friends. A Graveside Service will be held at 10:00am Monday, August 3, 2009 at St. Johnss Cemetery with Rev. Edward M. Cotten officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Haywood R. Thornton, III Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 7000245, St. Cloud, FL 34770. HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements.