James Alspach Runkel

James Alspach Runkel, 86, of Kerrville, Gillespie County, Texas, died Oct. 22, 2014.

He was born July 7, 1928, in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, the son of Samuel Luke Runkel and Violet Kramer Alspach. He married Phyllis Schramm of Marietta, Ohio, Aug. 28, 1949. Phyllis passed away in 2011 in Houston, Texas. James married Linda Benge Dockery of Statesville, N.C., Oct. 11, 1991.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons and their spouses, Jay and Sue Runkel, Scotia, N.Y., Gregory and Jeanne Nivard Runkel, Queensbury, N.Y., Douglas and Mary Runkel, Houston, Texas, Christopher and Elaine Runkel, Burke, Va., Brian Runkel and Salina Nguyen, Fairfax, Va., and Philip and Pam Runkel, Waxhaw, N.C. James was the proud and loving grandfather of Jennifer Runkel McNeill and her husband Adam McNeill, Scott Runkel, Laura Runkel, Matt Runkel, Andrew Runkel and his wife Jena Malinowski, Collin Runkel, Nick Runkel, Corey Runkel, Ben Runkel, and Jack Runkel; and one great-grandchild, Sophie McNeill.

He is also survived by his brother, Stuart Luke Runkel and his wife, Ruth Masters Runkel, of Somerset, Ohio, and their three children, John, Michael, and Pamela and their spouses and children.

He graduated Marietta High School, Marietta, Ohio, in 1946. After graduation from Marietta College, Ohio in 1950, he moved to Colorado. He taught from 1950-53 in Keating Junior High, Pueblo, Co., and Columbine Intermediate School, Longmont, Co. His first two sons were born during this time. In 1953, he taught at Arrowview Junior High in the San Bernardino Unified School District, San Bernardino, Calif. In 1955, he completed his M.Ed in School Administration at the University of Arizona. From 1955-1958 he served as Vice Principal, Golden Valley Junior High. In 1958, he moved the family back to Ohio, where he was Junior/Senior High School Principal, Oakwood City Schools (Dayton), Ohio. He took a leave from 1963-1964 to complete his Ed.D Degree at Indiana University. In 1965, the family, now with six boys, moved to New York, where he became Superintendent, Mohanasen Central School District, Rotterdam, N.Y. From 1967-1974 he served as Superintendent, South Colonie Central School District, Albany, N.Y. From 1974-85 he served as District Superintendent of the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES in Canandaigua, N.Y. Believing strongly in the public school system, he liked to emphasize quality education for the non-college as well as the college bound. He also believed that education should be individualized as much as possible.

In 1985, he moved to Greensboro, N.C., where he served as Visiting Associate Professor, School Of Education, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He also was Director, Office of School Services; Program Director for Department of Educational Administration, Higher Education and Educational Research. In 1992, he moved to Texas and formed Runkel Consulting which focused on educational issues and staff development. He also served as Adjunct Facility Member, University of Texas, San Antonio.

Beginning with the move to Texas, he considered himself semi-retired. He focused on all the things he loved: hiking, tennis, swimming, bird watching, dancing, working toward proficiency in Spanish, reading, and travel.

His family and friends are continuing to honor his life by joining together over the next few months to ‘Celebrate’ him with stories, memories and, of course, large servings of homemade vanilla ice cream, which he loved.

He cherished his family and did good for others. To this end, he has donated his body, specifically his brain, for researchers to use in the the exploration of the causes and future prevention of dementing diseases.

The family would welcome donations in his honor to your local Hospice, the Alzheimer’s Foundation, The Garrison Institute on Aging, Brain Bank, or any other agency that does good for others.