Jack Andrew Runion

Jack Andrew Runion, 86, passed away on April 6, 2016. Born in Harrisonburg, VA, he was the son of the late Emerson James and Edith Fulk Runion. He served four years with the Strategic Air Command – U.S. Air Force and received a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond.

Jack joined Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion) in 1956 and spent eight years in the Area Development Department in Richmond and seven years in the company’s North Carolina Industrial Development Program. He joined Coats & Clark, Inc. in Jamesville, NC in 1973 and held positions of Personnel Management and Plant Superintendent until 1981. He rejoined Dominion/North Carolina Power as Division Personnel Administrator in Roanoke Rapids and was appointed Economic Development Administrator in July 1981. Jack retired in 1994 as Manager – Community and Government Affairs, a position held since appointed in 1982.

He was a member and served in various positions with the Halifax Development Commission, the Halifax County Business Horizons, the Eastern North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast North Carolina Tomorrow, and the Northeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission. He was a Charter Member and Past Director of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association and was made an Emeritus Member in June 2002. He received the Eastern North Carolina Industrialist of the Year Award in 1994 and Governor Hunt’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 1996. Most importantly to him, in 1999, Jack was a recipient of The Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

During Jack’s career, he mentored, trained and was a valuable resource to countless Economic Developers, not only in Eastern North Carolina, but throughout the State of North Carolina.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Janet Peede Runion; children: Jane E. Runion and husband Marc Marschark, Jonathan Andrew Runion, and Susan Black Apple and husband Philip Apple; grandsons: Brian Andrew Runion, Michael Thomas Runion, William Taylor Apple and Owen Edward Apple; Uncle: Forest L. “Speck” Fulk; Aunt: Neva Fulk Melhorne. He is preceded in death by his brother, Gene Edward Runion.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 15th at Avent Ferry United Methodist Church, 2700 Avent Ferry Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606. Visitation will be held at 10:00 am in the Fellowship Hall and the Memorial Service will follow at 11:00 am in the sanctuary.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 16th at Mountain Grove Church of the Brethren, 12743 Third Hill Rd, Fulks Run, VA 22830.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jack’s memory may be made to All Saints United Methodist Church at 8311 Brier Creek Parkway, #105-77, Raleigh, NC 27617.