Judith C. Runnels

Mrs. Runnels died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at her home.

She was born May 11, 1935, in Lawrence, Kan., the daughter of Corlett and Nell Cotton. She attended Lawrence public schools and graduated from Kansas University in 1958 with a nursing degree. She was a cardiology nurse at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., for two years, a staff and intensive care nurse from 1968 to 1972 at the Stanford Medical Center, an office nurse at Planned Parenthood clinics and a volunteer clinical nurse in Guatemala.

She was lobbyist to the Kansas Legislature for the Kansas State Nursing Assn. from 1973 to 1979 and lobbyist for Kansas Gov. John Carlin from 1979 to 1981. She was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1982, representing a Topeka district, and served two terms. She was executive director of Economic Lifelines for the Kansas Highway Coalition from 1988 to 1989.

She was the first woman on the Mountain View, Calif., Planning Commission and served from 1968 to 1972. She also served on the Capitol Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Governor’s Council of Fitness, Kansas Children’s Service League, Health Care Provider Malpractice Study Commission, Family Law Advisory Committee to the Kansas Judicial Council and several Topeka charity organizations.

She was elected to the National Honor Society of Nursing in 1978 and was named KU Nurse Alumnus of the Year in 1987. She served as president of the Shawnee County, Kan., Medical Society Auxiliary and Stanford Medical Center Auxiliary.

She married John B. Runnels on May 31, 1958, in Lawrence. He survives of the home.

Other survivors include a son, John B. Runnels III, Centennial, Colo.; two daughters, Ruth Marie Runnels, Tulsa, Okla., and Laura R. Fleming, Pasadena, Calif.; a brother, C. John Cotton, Fresno, Calif.; and five grandsons.

The family suggests memorials to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104; or Mercy Hospice Mount Shasta, P.O. Box 239, Mount Shasta, CA 96067.