Paul Arthur Runkel

RUNKEL, Paul Arthur, 90 years old, a longtime resident of Montgomery, Alabama (most recently at the Bill Nichols V.A. home in Alexander City, Alabama), went home to the Lord on March 16, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents: Robert William Runkel and Melissa Elizabeth (Wyeth) Runkel; his brother, Warren Leonard Runkel; and his wife of 59 years, Myra Ann (Russell) Runkel. He is survived by his daughter, Angela Dawn (Runkel) Combs; his son-in-law, James Lawrence Combs; 2 grandsons, Matthew Emory Combs, and Lawrence Joseph Combs. Family includes numerous cousins across the United States.

Paul was born in Hammond, IL, in 1933. He graduated from Longview, TX, Senior High School in 1952; he attended Kilgore College for a semester on a full academic scholarship until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy later that same year.

During the Korean War, he was a combat medic with the 1st Marine Division. He was also a field medic with the Marine Corps. He served in several duty stations for the next three years until he was honorably discharged in 1957. Paul returned to Kilgore College until enlisting in the Air Force; he completed his degree through the auspices of the U.S. Armed Forces Institute in conjunction with the University of Texas. He was awarded the Master of Science degree in Medical Education in late 1961. In 1962 became an instructor of Human Anatomy and Physiology at Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, AL.

While there in 1964, he met and married his future wife, Myra. Their daughter, Angela, was born in 1965. They moved along with Paul to several duty stations (including Misawa, Japan, where he also served as a substitute preacher); Paul then served in the Vietnam War in 1972. He retired from active duty after 22 years of honorable service in 1974.

He had been awarded 27 military decorations, including the following:

Combat Action Service

Presidential Unit Citation (Marines) – equivalent to the Navy Cross

Navy Commendation

Air Force Commendation

Korean Service

Arctic Service

Vietnam Service

Republic of South Korea Presidential Unit Citation

U.N. Service (Korea)

He and his family settled in Montgomery, AL, after his retirement from the military. He worked several different jobs throughout his civilian career up until 2001, including:

Certified Medical Clinician

Surgical Technologist

Surgical Assistant

AL Department of Corrections officer

Technician/Investigator with AL Dept of Forensic Sciences

Volunteer with Montgomery Police Department

At times in retirement, he pursued interests in research and family genealogy, taught Sunday School, and served as a Baptist deacon. He also was a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge, a life member of the Disabled American Veteran (DAV), and a member of the American Legion.