Tom Runnells

Thomas Keith Runnells was born to Floyd and Helen Runnells in Burlington, IA on June 10, 1951. He passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at Oklahoma Heart Hospital.
He attended and graduated from Burlington High School in 1970. Tom was very active in football and wrestling while in school. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard. Tom joined his father working in several car dealerships. Before coming to Ada, he lived and worked in Burlington, IA, Laramie, WY, Newton, IA, Apple Valley, MN and Coppell, TX.
In 1992, Tom moved to Ada to work as the F & I Manager for Marion Fenton. Until then, he was a University of Iowa Hawkeye fan. He soon became an OU Sooner fan.
Tom immediately became involved in the Ada community. He was chosen as the Kiwanian of the Year 1993-94 and became the Kiwanis Club President 2000-2001. In 1999, he received the Elks Distinguished Citizenship Award and the Ada Chamber of Commerce 1999 Volunteer of the Year. Tom's heart was with Relay for Life, as he had lost his mother and brother to cancer. In 2003 he received the American Cancer Society Outstanding Volunteer Award. He became known as "Mr. Community" and he loved it.
In 1999, he married Belinda McSwain and together they concentrated on making the Ada Relay for Life the best in the state.
He worked for the Chickasaw Nation in various positions. He took the position of Drug Testing Coordinator, and later became the Chickasaw Nation Ada Community Center Liaison. Tom absolutely loved his job and took pride in helping customers through both happy and sad occasions.
Tom motto in life was "If it is to be, it is up to me". He modeled that behavior and will be sorely missed.
Survivors include his wife, Belinda, of the home; son, Corey Givens, Webb City, MO; daughter, Jenny Turner, Fort Madison, IA; step-sons, Charlie McSwain and Casey McSwain, both of Ada; granddaughters, Tesia and Jessie Givens, Webb City, MO; grandsons, Dale and David Degan, Fort. Madison, IA, Tommy Givens, Webb City, MO and Cason McSwain, Ada; sisters-in-law, Rebecca and husband Lynn and Jenne Lofton; brother-in-law, Roy Throne and wife Kim; and abundance of nieces, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother and brother.
Services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the Chickasaw Nation Community Center, Vickie Nix will officiate. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at Criswell Funeral Home.
Honorary Bearers will be Bill Thompson, Tommy Redman, Mike Cox, Bill Dietsch, Mike Choate, Mike Hall, Tim Buhmeyer and Lee Bahner.