Billie
Billie Runnels
d. June 12, 2012
Billie Lee Van Houten Runnels of Leawood, Kansas, born on August 6, 1927, passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2012. Billie lived and loved in Kansas for 63 years, yet she was a proud southerner at heart, a Georgia Peach with a southern drawl. Raised in LaGrange, Georgia, she was known for her extreme intelligence and wit. She graduated top of her class from LaGrange Female Academy. Not quite twenty years old, she married a World War II paratrooper and Texan named Robert Runnels. Billie moved to Texas with Bob, where she triple-majored and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston. After the War, in 1949, she moved to Kansas City to help Bob pursue his flourishing career with the Folgers Coffee Company. In Kansas, they raised seven children, six girls and a boy. Billie and Bob were married for 55 years, until Bob passed away in 2002.
Early on, Billie taught elementary school. A devout Catholic, she served the Church and community. For years she worked in the offices of the rectory at Curé of Ars, where she also attended 6:30 a.m. Mass daily with her German Shepard, who lay in the doorway, half-in, half-out. She was also the "Flower Lady" at Curé, watering and tending to the Church's flowers, and their "Picture Lady," carrying paintings inside the classroom to help kids learn about and appreciate fine art. For years, she volunteered at the Nelson Art Gallery, Meals on Wheels, and worked with the blind.
Billie was a dancer. She played tennis, swam, and practiced Yoga well-before it became popular. For decades, she was a loyal member of the same Bridge Club. She and Bob loved to Square Dance, play cards, and travel. In her lifetime, Billie traveled the world, from the Vatican in Italy to attending the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. She and Bob treated their whole family, children and spouses, to glorious European adventures. A walking dictionary, Billie often knew the answer to that one thing you wanted to know about anything. Brilliant, strong-willed and independent, she spoke her mind and loved to laugh. She could always tell a good story.
Billie was loved and will be missed dearly by her seven children: Robert Runnels, Jr., Lucia Duecy, Becky Rector, Deborah Marron, Beth Ann Runnels, Janice Lierz, and Martha Gray; their spouses, her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and so many friends, many she has had since childhood.
Funeral services and Visitation with the family will be held at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9345 Mission Road in Leawood on Saturday, June 16; Visitation at 10 a.m., Funeral at 11.
As a special thanks to Hospice, and in lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation in Billie Runnels' honor to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City MO 64145.
Early on, Billie taught elementary school. A devout Catholic, she served the Church and community. For years she worked in the offices of the rectory at Curé of Ars, where she also attended 6:30 a.m. Mass daily with her German Shepard, who lay in the doorway, half-in, half-out. She was also the "Flower Lady" at Curé, watering and tending to the Church's flowers, and their "Picture Lady," carrying paintings inside the classroom to help kids learn about and appreciate fine art. For years, she volunteered at the Nelson Art Gallery, Meals on Wheels, and worked with the blind.
Billie was a dancer. She played tennis, swam, and practiced Yoga well-before it became popular. For decades, she was a loyal member of the same Bridge Club. She and Bob loved to Square Dance, play cards, and travel. In her lifetime, Billie traveled the world, from the Vatican in Italy to attending the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany. She and Bob treated their whole family, children and spouses, to glorious European adventures. A walking dictionary, Billie often knew the answer to that one thing you wanted to know about anything. Brilliant, strong-willed and independent, she spoke her mind and loved to laugh. She could always tell a good story.
Billie was loved and will be missed dearly by her seven children: Robert Runnels, Jr., Lucia Duecy, Becky Rector, Deborah Marron, Beth Ann Runnels, Janice Lierz, and Martha Gray; their spouses, her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and so many friends, many she has had since childhood.
Funeral services and Visitation with the family will be held at Curé of Ars Catholic Church, 9345 Mission Road in Leawood on Saturday, June 16; Visitation at 10 a.m., Funeral at 11.
As a special thanks to Hospice, and in lieu of flowers, please consider sending a donation in Billie Runnels' honor to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City MO 64145.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billie Runnels, please visit our flower store.