Walter Runkle

Walter Eugene Runkle, beloved husband father and grandfather, of Troy died Tuesday March 7, 2017 at his home in Troy after a long battle with cancer. He was 82. Walter was born on October 17, 1934 in Zanesville, OH to John & Trudy Runkle. The oldest of 10 children Walter attended school through the 10th grade then went to work doing Coal mining. Walter served in the US Navy in the Mediterranean after the Korean War. After leaving the service he ended up in California, and worked several jobs before going to work for Norse industries in Bernon, CA where he worked as a deconstruction foreman for 10 years retiring in 1991. He then went to work for the US forest service, which brought him to Idaho. He later went to work for the Troy school district and retired from there in in 2004. Walter Married Debbie Knott on August 31, 1996 in Troy, ID. Walter enjoyed reading, camping, rodeos and horseback riding, and was a member of the back country horseman and Latah County Sheriff's Posse for 20 years. He is survived by his wife Debbie of 20 years at their Troy home. Daughters Stephanie Baker, & Danielle Knott, Sons; Marty(Dawn) Bowen and Michael (Mauri) Knott, sisters; Nancy (Fred) Thompson, Pinky (Paul) Powell, Sallie (Gene) Devoll, 14 grandchildren, 15 greatgrandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, his friends & coffee group Bub Latta, Dave Coleman, Dan Budvarson, Chris Reed, Pete Abbott & Calvin Johnson. The family would like to express their gratitude to the Kindred Hospice, the nursing staff at Gritman Medical Center, the Troy Ambulance service, Cancer Center of Lewiston, Ellen Lengasher and Kaitlynn and Cheyanne Knott. A celebration of Walter's life will be held at the Troy Park Gazebo at 1:00 PM May 20th. The family asks you to kindly bring a dish and your own chair. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations in memory of Walter be made to the Troy Ambulance Fund.