Runions remembered by hundreds at their Marietta church

Elrey “Bud” and June Runion were remembered Saturday by hundreds who gathered in the couple’s church home of 28 years as people of strong faith, whose charity and generosity “was an expression of Christ’s love."

Mourners began filing into Mt. Paran North Church of God in Marietta at 11:15 a.m., nearly two hours before the service was to start.

Ushers brought in sprays of roses, carnations, lilies and mums while friends of the Runions hugged and consoled each other.

Pink and red flowers adorned a shiny bicycle at the edge of the pulpit. It was reference to Bud’s Bicycle ministry, a charity he’d run for years restoring old bikes and giving them to children whose parents couldn’t afford to buy them new ones.

The couple’s death last week in Telfair County made national headlines, because of its cruelty and what law enforcement says was extreme premeditation.

Following a lead on Craigslist, Bud and June Runion made the trip to an area just outside McRae, looking for someone who claimed to have a vintage 1966 Ford Mustang that Bud Runion wanted to buy. Instead, Telfair County Sheriff’s officials say, Ronnie “Jay” Towns, 28, lured the couple to a remote part of the county near his home and shot Bud, 69, and June, 66, in the head.

Earlier this week Towns was charged with malice murder and armed robbery.

The Runions were reported missing by their daughters after they failed to show up to babysit their grandchildren the next day, Jan. 23.

The Runions’ GMC Envoy was found in a shallow pond on Monday morning and their bodies found nearby later that afternoon. Each had been shot in the head.

Just before the service began, video monitors across the front of the sanctuary flashed photos of the Runions through the years. In one, June held a grandchild. In another Bud mugged for the camera, a Christmas ribbon stuck to his forehead. Each image told the story of a couple and two generations of their family, one that appeared loving and happy.

In a video message to the congregation, Stephanie Bishop, Bud Runion’s oldest daughter and June’s stepdaughter, thanked parishioners for coming, telling them she wished she and two sisters could hug them all, but that talking to anyone but family now was “too hard.”

Among the mourners were members of an antique car club.

As the room filled, a choir rehearsed a song they would sing for the service.

“When He calls my name, I will rise. No more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise,” they sang.

Visit the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the full story from the funeral.

This story was originally published January 31, 2015 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Runions remembered by hundreds at their Marietta church."