Louis Aubrey Runyon III

Louis Aubrey Runyon III was born On May 10, 1949, in Pikeville, Kentucky to Louis Jr and Madge Hylton. He lived the country life between the house in town, and his Grandparents farm, with his brothers James & John, and his sister, Paige. The family moved to Gainesville, Florida when Lou was 14, and he attended Gainesville High School. He joined the Navy, and was trained as a fire control tech (gun control). He spent his first few years serving on ships protecting his country and seeing the world. While at his base port of Norfolk, Virginia, he met Kathy Green. They married and moved to her hometown of Kingsport, Tennessee, where they raised their two sons, Chad & Christopher. Shortly after Lou’s last deployment, they chose to divorce. He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago, Illinois, as a Fire Control Instructor. He taught there for several of his 12 years in the Navy, and then as a civilian. Lou met Susan Topel in the early 70’s and married in 1975, and “we’ve been together ever since”. They moved to Gainesville, Florida, with their two sons, Eric & Shaun, and a year later back to the country life on 5-1/2 acres outside of Archer, Florida. Lou got a job with the School Board of Alachua County in the Audio Visual Department. He liked the work on various pieces of equipment at all the schools, and was never happier than when tinkering on some piece of equipment at the shop he called “the ice box”. This was to be his last job, as he suffered a final, handicapping stroke that made him unable to work with his hands. He’d had a major stroke when he was 34 years old, that he recovered from. He also had a series of smaller strokes & seizures throughout his life that he’d fought with strength and grit. It took a bit of the wind out of his sails, but his family and friends kept him sailing on. In 1997, he found renewed purpose when he joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a charitable organization, with the goals of helping people at their Grand, State, and local levels. He was an active member, and frequent officer, of Aerie #4385, Eagles Landing, He was very proud of his friendships and service there. Early this year, Lou was diagnosed with Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer and was under Hospice care at home. His body was weak, but his love of family & spirit were strong. Lou passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Lou is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan, his brothers James (Ruth), John (Jayne), and his sister, Paige (Guy) Hale, all four sons Chad (Keila), Christopher (Teresa), Eric (Christine), and Shaun. He was proud of all of his sons and his 6 grandchildren Adam & Seth (Chad), Christopher & Dillon (Christopher), Breanna (Eric), and Michael (Shaun). We will all miss you very much, but will keep you alive in our hearts.

God took a special man home, on a special day.

Crevasse's Simple Cremation is honored to serve the Runyon Family.