Husband of Janice Black
Father of Greg, Pamela, Lisa and Heather
Charles Robert 'Bob' Runyon
Charles Robert "Bob" Runyon, Pacific Northwest photographer and teacher, of Wild Rose, Wis., died Feb. 27, 2012, at 1 a.m., after a long-term battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's illnesses. He was 78.
Bob was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Coffeen, Ill., to Willard "Doc" and Alice Runyon. He was preceded in death by his older brother John "Jack" Runyon.
Bob attended schools in Illinois, and majored in music at the University of Illinois. Bob, nicknamed "Sunshine", was active in Concert Band as a baritone and tuba player, and was president of the marching band. He graduated with a Master of Science (1956) in music. At the university he met, Janice Black (Bachelor of Science in biology, 1956); they married in 1954.
In 1956, Bob and Janice moved to Issaquah to be close to relatives, fly-fishing, and to start a family. For five years, Bob was a music teacher for Issaquah schools, including May Valley and Preston. In 1963, he transferred to the Bellevue School District, where he taught music for Phantom Lake Elementary School, Tillicum Junior High School and Sammamish High School. His bands won numerous awards and recognitions. Bob was popular for his performance as the guest conductor "Professor Toot-Sweet."
During the mid-1960s , he began teaching photography as well as music at Tillicum. In 1970, he transitioned to teaching only photography. He primarily taught photography at Tillicum and Highland middle schools (Bellevue), where his students won numerous Kodak Scholastic Awards. Often, his students won more awards than the combined rest of the student competition in the country.
In the early 1980s, Bob taught adult evening classes in photography and offered a lecture series featuring National Geographic photographers. He donated proceeds to furnishing classroom labs at Tillicum and Bellevue high schools.
In the mid-1980s, he stopped teaching in the Bellevue School District and became a very successful full-time professional landscape photographer specializing in the scenic views of the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest. Bob's photographs were typically very large and required multiple panels to exhibit them. His photographs were sold in large doctor/dentist office shows and home and garden shows throughout the Northwest, as well as online. Bob's pictures can be found on large wall spaces of many offices and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Bob also loved fly-fishing for trout, and enjoyed fishing with his youngest daughter Heather. Bob was known to always catch the limit, even if everyone else got "skunked." Bob made many friends with his music, fishing and photography hobbies. He devoted a lot of energy to every activity he committed to. He continued to demonstrate throughout his life that it is possible to be successful if you always do what you like to do.
Health complications required Bob to retire from photography in 2009. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Wild Rose, Wis., to live with his oldest daughter Pamela and her husband Darcy.
Bob is survived by his wife Janice; four children Pamela Ratajczak (Darcy) of Wild Rose, Wis., Greg Runyon, of Cedar Grove, N.C., Lisa Brown of Ellensburg, and Heather Harvey (Steven), of Antioch, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Rachel Brown, Megan Brown and Zachery Brown.
Bob was a unique and talented individual, whose sense of humor, warm heart and caring nature endeared him to many.
Father of Greg, Pamela, Lisa and Heather
Charles Robert 'Bob' Runyon
Charles Robert "Bob" Runyon, Pacific Northwest photographer and teacher, of Wild Rose, Wis., died Feb. 27, 2012, at 1 a.m., after a long-term battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's illnesses. He was 78.
Bob was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Coffeen, Ill., to Willard "Doc" and Alice Runyon. He was preceded in death by his older brother John "Jack" Runyon.
Bob attended schools in Illinois, and majored in music at the University of Illinois. Bob, nicknamed "Sunshine", was active in Concert Band as a baritone and tuba player, and was president of the marching band. He graduated with a Master of Science (1956) in music. At the university he met, Janice Black (Bachelor of Science in biology, 1956); they married in 1954.
In 1956, Bob and Janice moved to Issaquah to be close to relatives, fly-fishing, and to start a family. For five years, Bob was a music teacher for Issaquah schools, including May Valley and Preston. In 1963, he transferred to the Bellevue School District, where he taught music for Phantom Lake Elementary School, Tillicum Junior High School and Sammamish High School. His bands won numerous awards and recognitions. Bob was popular for his performance as the guest conductor "Professor Toot-Sweet."
During the mid-1960s , he began teaching photography as well as music at Tillicum. In 1970, he transitioned to teaching only photography. He primarily taught photography at Tillicum and Highland middle schools (Bellevue), where his students won numerous Kodak Scholastic Awards. Often, his students won more awards than the combined rest of the student competition in the country.
In the early 1980s, Bob taught adult evening classes in photography and offered a lecture series featuring National Geographic photographers. He donated proceeds to furnishing classroom labs at Tillicum and Bellevue high schools.
In the mid-1980s, he stopped teaching in the Bellevue School District and became a very successful full-time professional landscape photographer specializing in the scenic views of the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest. Bob's photographs were typically very large and required multiple panels to exhibit them. His photographs were sold in large doctor/dentist office shows and home and garden shows throughout the Northwest, as well as online. Bob's pictures can be found on large wall spaces of many offices and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Bob also loved fly-fishing for trout, and enjoyed fishing with his youngest daughter Heather. Bob was known to always catch the limit, even if everyone else got "skunked." Bob made many friends with his music, fishing and photography hobbies. He devoted a lot of energy to every activity he committed to. He continued to demonstrate throughout his life that it is possible to be successful if you always do what you like to do.
Health complications required Bob to retire from photography in 2009. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Wild Rose, Wis., to live with his oldest daughter Pamela and her husband Darcy.
Bob is survived by his wife Janice; four children Pamela Ratajczak (Darcy) of Wild Rose, Wis., Greg Runyon, of Cedar Grove, N.C., Lisa Brown of Ellensburg, and Heather Harvey (Steven), of Antioch, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Rachel Brown, Megan Brown and Zachery Brown.
Bob was a unique and talented individual, whose sense of humor, warm heart and caring nature endeared him to many.
Husband of Janice Black
Father of Greg, Pamela, Lisa and Heather
Charles Robert 'Bob' Runyon
Charles Robert "Bob" Runyon, Pacific Northwest photographer and teacher, of Wild Rose, Wis., died Feb. 27, 2012, at 1 a.m., after a long-term battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's illnesses. He was 78.
Bob was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Coffeen, Ill., to Willard "Doc" and Alice Runyon. He was preceded in death by his older brother John "Jack" Runyon.
Bob attended schools in Illinois, and majored in music at the University of Illinois. Bob, nicknamed "Sunshine", was active in Concert Band as a baritone and tuba player, and was president of the marching band. He graduated with a Master of Science (1956) in music. At the university he met, Janice Black (Bachelor of Science in biology, 1956); they married in 1954.
In 1956, Bob and Janice moved to Issaquah to be close to relatives, fly-fishing, and to start a family. For five years, Bob was a music teacher for Issaquah schools, including May Valley and Preston. In 1963, he transferred to the Bellevue School District, where he taught music for Phantom Lake Elementary School, Tillicum Junior High School and Sammamish High School. His bands won numerous awards and recognitions. Bob was popular for his performance as the guest conductor "Professor Toot-Sweet."
During the mid-1960s , he began teaching photography as well as music at Tillicum. In 1970, he transitioned to teaching only photography. He primarily taught photography at Tillicum and Highland middle schools (Bellevue), where his students won numerous Kodak Scholastic Awards. Often, his students won more awards than the combined rest of the student competition in the country.
In the early 1980s, Bob taught adult evening classes in photography and offered a lecture series featuring National Geographic photographers. He donated proceeds to furnishing classroom labs at Tillicum and Bellevue high schools.
In the mid-1980s, he stopped teaching in the Bellevue School District and became a very successful full-time professional landscape photographer specializing in the scenic views of the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest. Bob's photographs were typically very large and required multiple panels to exhibit them. His photographs were sold in large doctor/dentist office shows and home and garden shows throughout the Northwest, as well as online. Bob's pictures can be found on large wall spaces of many offices and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Bob also loved fly-fishing for trout, and enjoyed fishing with his youngest daughter Heather. Bob was known to always catch the limit, even if everyone else got "skunked." Bob made many friends with his music, fishing and photography hobbies. He devoted a lot of energy to every activity he committed to. He continued to demonstrate throughout his life that it is possible to be successful if you always do what you like to do.
Health complications required Bob to retire from photography in 2009. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Wild Rose, Wis., to live with his oldest daughter Pamela and her husband Darcy.
Bob is survived by his wife Janice; four children Pamela Ratajczak (Darcy) of Wild Rose, Wis., Greg Runyon, of Cedar Grove, N.C., Lisa Brown of Ellensburg, and Heather Harvey (Steven), of Antioch, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Rachel Brown, Megan Brown and Zachery Brown.
Bob was a unique and talented individual, whose sense of humor, warm heart and caring nature endeared him to many.
Father of Greg, Pamela, Lisa and Heather
Charles Robert 'Bob' Runyon
Charles Robert "Bob" Runyon, Pacific Northwest photographer and teacher, of Wild Rose, Wis., died Feb. 27, 2012, at 1 a.m., after a long-term battle with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's illnesses. He was 78.
Bob was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Coffeen, Ill., to Willard "Doc" and Alice Runyon. He was preceded in death by his older brother John "Jack" Runyon.
Bob attended schools in Illinois, and majored in music at the University of Illinois. Bob, nicknamed "Sunshine", was active in Concert Band as a baritone and tuba player, and was president of the marching band. He graduated with a Master of Science (1956) in music. At the university he met, Janice Black (Bachelor of Science in biology, 1956); they married in 1954.
In 1956, Bob and Janice moved to Issaquah to be close to relatives, fly-fishing, and to start a family. For five years, Bob was a music teacher for Issaquah schools, including May Valley and Preston. In 1963, he transferred to the Bellevue School District, where he taught music for Phantom Lake Elementary School, Tillicum Junior High School and Sammamish High School. His bands won numerous awards and recognitions. Bob was popular for his performance as the guest conductor "Professor Toot-Sweet."
During the mid-1960s , he began teaching photography as well as music at Tillicum. In 1970, he transitioned to teaching only photography. He primarily taught photography at Tillicum and Highland middle schools (Bellevue), where his students won numerous Kodak Scholastic Awards. Often, his students won more awards than the combined rest of the student competition in the country.
In the early 1980s, Bob taught adult evening classes in photography and offered a lecture series featuring National Geographic photographers. He donated proceeds to furnishing classroom labs at Tillicum and Bellevue high schools.
In the mid-1980s, he stopped teaching in the Bellevue School District and became a very successful full-time professional landscape photographer specializing in the scenic views of the Pacific Northwest and the American Southwest. Bob's photographs were typically very large and required multiple panels to exhibit them. His photographs were sold in large doctor/dentist office shows and home and garden shows throughout the Northwest, as well as online. Bob's pictures can be found on large wall spaces of many offices and homes throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Bob also loved fly-fishing for trout, and enjoyed fishing with his youngest daughter Heather. Bob was known to always catch the limit, even if everyone else got "skunked." Bob made many friends with his music, fishing and photography hobbies. He devoted a lot of energy to every activity he committed to. He continued to demonstrate throughout his life that it is possible to be successful if you always do what you like to do.
Health complications required Bob to retire from photography in 2009. In 2010, he and his wife moved to Wild Rose, Wis., to live with his oldest daughter Pamela and her husband Darcy.
Bob is survived by his wife Janice; four children Pamela Ratajczak (Darcy) of Wild Rose, Wis., Greg Runyon, of Cedar Grove, N.C., Lisa Brown of Ellensburg, and Heather Harvey (Steven), of Antioch, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Rachel Brown, Megan Brown and Zachery Brown.
Bob was a unique and talented individual, whose sense of humor, warm heart and caring nature endeared him to many.
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