Published: September 27, 2009 11:37 pm         

Rachel C. Runyan

CENTENARY — Rachel C. Runyan, 85, of Centenary, passed away at 5:29 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at Union Hospital in Terre Haute. She was born Oct. 7, 1923, in Clinton, to Fitzhugh Wheeler and Stella Sparks Wheeler. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Runyan.

Survivors include her children, Nancy (Bill) Prouse of Centenary, Sandra (Jerry) Russell of Clinton, Mary Jane Hedges of Centenary, Richard (Fran) Benson of Bridgeville, Del., Rebecca (Jim) Hall of Fairview Park, and Betsy Rabold of Noblesville; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Helen Pepelea of Clinton, Pauline Downing of Danville, Ind., Shirley Damiane of Columbus, Ohio; and special friend, Tom Gubser.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Boren; brothers, James Franklin Wheeler, Lee Edward Wheeler and Charles Thomas Wheeler; grandchildren, Denise Prouse and Lee Ann Stariha; and a great-grandchild, Gregory Allen Searing.

She was a member of the Half Century Club Auxiliary in Clinton.

Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday at Frist Funeral Home, 458 Blackman St., in Clinton, with the Rev. Steve Gladding officiating. Burial is in Reed’s Sugar Grove Cemetery. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.