Doris Sharp Runyan

1919 - 2017

NEWPORT NEWS - May 15, 1919 - February 18, 2017 Doris has passed into her new life and is receiving God's blessings for a life of service, dedication, love and nurturing. She was a woman of her age, dedicated to her husband and family. Doris was the family Matriarch and oversaw all household and family rearing matters. She came from a strict, but loving family in rural New Jersey. She learned the importance of hard work, common sense decision making, and the love of a close-knit family with common goals in life. Doris carried these ideals throughout her life. They were critical to her family surviving and growing during those early years in Hampton and Newport News when she and Harry arrived on the Peninsula in 1945 with no support group or "safety net" of any sort. Doris made sure that no one in her family would ever have to do that again. She has spent the remainder of her life on the Peninsula, living a quiet, meaningful life. Doris raised two children, Gerald L. Runyan and Susan R. Perry; five grandchildren, Darich Runyan, Christopher Runyan, Katherine Elstun, Walter Perry and Scott Perry; and six great-grandchildren. Every one of her descendants leads a successful, meaningful life and career in their own right. She was predeceased by Harry, her husband of 69 years, and her brother, William R. Sharp, Jr. of New Jersey. Quiet though her life was, she did enjoy it. Doris was a charter member of the Hidenwood Presbyterian Church and active throughout most of the Church's history. Doris is a 50 year member of the P.E.O., a woman's philanthropic group, whose key mission is education for women. She and Harry were avid bridge players, being members of several bridge groups for many years. Doris also worked at Colonial Williamsburg as a costumed interpreter for 10 years. She and Harry traveled often to Europe and Asia and, once completed a circumnavigation of the globe East to West. She has spread her vine well with family living all across the United States and as far away as Manila and Saipan. Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 121 - "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills¿". Please take a moment to read this short Psalm. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mennowood for their kind, loving care over the past three and one-half years and the recent caring attention of the hospice nurse, Helen. A visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 23 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home. The memorial service will be held Friday, Feb. 24, 2:00 p.m. at Hidenwood Presbyterian Church. Gifts in remembrance should be sent to the Hidenwood Presbyterian Church, 414 Hiden Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606.