Jacinto T. Runes

Jaye was born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii in May of 1930 to Jacinto and Elena Runes after they immigrated from the Philippines. After losing his mother at a young age, he was raised by his father, a Methodist minister, and his four older sisters. After high school, he served honorably in the US Army for four years, becoming a Korean War Veteran.

He then studied to become an aerospace engineer in California where his contributions to Project Apollo were numerous. Eventually, Mary, an ambitious teacher from Ohio, captured his heart and together they proudly raised three children, Jason, Dena, and Derek. 1972 brought the young family to Colorado where Jaye accepted an engineering position with Hughes Aircraft where he worked until retirement.

Besides his interest in cars and playing the ukulele, Jaye's true lifelong passion was the martial arts, in particular, Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan, which he taught throughout his adult life, guiding and inspiring countless people along the way. He even realized a dream of opening his own school in Parker, Colorado where he continued to share his knowledge.

Admired by everyone he knew, Jaye cherished his role as Papa to his three grandchildren, Samantha, Sydney, and Kai. Jaye will be remembered in many ways by many people, often as a serious, intelligent, disciplined man with a firm but gentle deameanor. Yet we will always remember his infectious smile which, even up till the end, he shared with heartfelt gratitude and the Aloha spirit for a life well lived and loved. ~

A graveside service for Jacinto will be held Friday, August 19, 2022 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO 80236. All are welcome and Aloha attire is encouraged.

Please join us in celebrating Jaye at Cherry Park, 6300 E Weaver Dr, Centennial CO 80111 at 3:00 where we will enjoy refreshments and "talk story".

In lieu of flowers, the family graciously requests that donations be made to the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) in Jaye's honor. heroes.vfw.org

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerchapelhill.com for the Runes family.