Velva I. Runchey was born January 13, 1912, in Wesley Iowa, daughter of Charles and Leona (Douglas) Johnson. The family moved to a farm in Minnesota and later to Missouri. At the age of 14 she moved to Algona and graduated from Algona High School.
Velva was united in marriage to Fernley Runchey on November 14, 1931 in Rock Island, IL. After living a short time in Algona, IA, they moved to Goshen, Indiana where they lived the majority of their married life. Fernley preceded her in death on November 3, 1975 after which, she moved to Grinnell, Iowa. In 1993, she moved to northwest suburban Chicago, Illinois to be near her daughter and grandchildren.
Velva was a 50+ year member of the Order of Eastern Star, Plymouth, Indiana Chapter. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, a 4-H leader for 12 years, and an American Red Cross Volunteer for many years.
Velva I Runchey died Wednesday, June 14, 2006 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Schaumburg, IL at the age of 94.
She is survived by her daughter Nancy Stires and her husband John of Inverness, IL; three grandchildren, MaryCourtney Scott and her husband Sean of Burleson, TX, 2LT JohnDavid Runchey Stires of Baumholder, Germany, and EmmaLea "Carrie" Stires of Inverness, IL; and a sister-in-law, Mary Smith of Algona.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother, Stanley Johnson.