Ronald Lee Runels

Ronald Lee Runels, 81, of Collinsville, Oklahoma passed January 6, 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was born to Tommy Leon and Ada Elaine (Leach) Runels in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 6, 1939.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Ronnie married the love of his life, Leola Jean Wilkins at Glenwood Baptist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 4, 1957. From their union, three children were born.

Ron was known as the family genius and could often be found in his shack working on his Ham Radio or in the computer room assembling, disassembling, or tinkering with a computer. He holds two patents for his work on mass spectrometers and he built the control electronics for the sampling arm of the Mars Viking Space Probe that was sent to Mars in the 1970s. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Collinsville before moving to Scottsdale, AZ in October of 2020.

Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife of 63 years, Leola Jean Runels, of Collinsville, OK; three children, Debra White and husband Robert, of Claremore, OK, Vicki Lynes and husband Steve, of Fountain Hills, AZ, and Doug Runels and wife Melinda, of Bristow, OK; four grandchildren, Kristi Smith-Sullivan and husband, Scott, of Austin, TX, David Runels and wife Cindy, of Scottsdale, AZ, Heather Weaver and husband Richard, of Midland, TX, and Kimberly Runels and partner Matthew Brantley, of Corvallis, OR; eight great-grandchildren: Kourtni, Jacob, Lauren, Henry, Connor, Chase, Alexandria and William; and a host of other relatives and friends also survive him.

A visitation will be held Friday, January 15th, 2021, from 9 am to 7 pm at Parsons-Canoe-Beggs Funeral Home Chapel with family being present from 4 pm to 7 pm.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10am on Saturday, January 16th, 2021, at First Baptist Church of Collinsville with Bro. Tim Prock officiating. A burial will follow in Elm Cemetery in Leach, Oklahoma.

Arrangements and Services are entrusted to Parsons-Canoe-Beggs Funeral Home of Collinsville, Oklahoma. Expressions of Sympathy for the Runels family may be left by visiting www.pcbfuneralgroup.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Spinal Injury Association by following the link https://asia-spinalinjury.org/make-a-donation/.

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