Arthur H. Runk Sr.

1920 - 2018

Arthur H. Runk, Sr. passed away peacefully on April 4, 2018 at Allegro Senior Living in St. Augustine. He was born on Sept. 8, 1920 in New York City, N.Y., the only child of Arthur Herman and Ella Runk.
Art graduated from Princeton University in 1943 with a degree in economics. He served his country during World War II as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy. After the war, he retained his commission in the USNR until reaching mandatory retirement. He was introduced to Mary Hoyle Page by her father, Cmdr. Jack Milton Page USN and they were married in 1945.
After leaving the Navy, he bought a house on Long Island, N.Y. and got a job with a major bank on Wall Street. He rode the Long Island Railroad and the New York Subway twice a day, six days a week to work. Mr. Runk came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way to live. In 1950, he and his wife and their then two children moved to St. Augustine.
He was a licensed General Contractor and President of Runk Construction Company as well as Chairman and co-owner of Old City Petroleum Co., a LP Gas retailer and Texaco Petroleum Distributor. Later he (with various partners and his children) developed several subdivisions and various commercial properties in St. Augustine. Mr. Runk was co-developer of St. Augustine Memorial Park on Old Moultrie Rod. It was the only cemetery in the area that banned headstones in favor of ground level markers.
In the late 1970s he joined longtime close friend, John D. Bailey Sr., and another partner Charles Davis in purchasing the former Fairchild Aircraft property adjacent to the St. Augustine Airport. After a great deal of negotiating, they were successful in getting Grumman (now Northrop Grumman) to buy the property and set up a plant. It is now one of the county's largest employers.
During his younger years Mr. Runk served on the Boards of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, Cross and Sword, Industrial Development Corp and Kiwanis Club. He was also President of St. Joseph Academy Athletic Assn. and St. Augustine Navy League. He was a Board Member of the Lightner Museum for 25 years, a charter member of the Board of Directors of Barnett Bank of St. Johns County and a longtime member and former chairman of the Board of Trustees of Flagler Hospital. He served for six years on the St. Augustine City Commission and was elected Mayor from 1973 to 1975.
One of his favorite memories occurred during the fall of 1939, while practicing with the Freshman Soccer Squad at Princeton, he often saw Albert Einstein and his sister and dog walk past the playing field. For those who knew him well, he was a modest and humble man who never drew attention to his many achievements. Art Runk Sr. used to say, "I had a long and wonderful life and consider myself to be one lucky, lucky guy".
Mr. Runk was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Mary. He is survived by one daughter, Mary Press (Herb) of Gainesville, and three sons, Art Runk Jr. (Janet), Chris Runk (Roberta), Paul Bradley Runk (Kim) all of St. Augustine. He has eight grandchildren, Melissa Wolsoncroft (John), Kelly Levy (Rodney), Jenna McDonald (Jakub), Tyler Runk, Kyle Runk, Crystal Shirley (Michael), Allie Patrou (Scott), and Mandy Murdock (Kyle). He also has five great-grandchildren, Meghan and Knox Wolsoncroft, Ella Levy, Isla Patrou and Brady Murdock.
A small family service will be held at a later date. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the excellent care provided by Dr. Farhat and staff as well as the entire staff of Allegro Senior Living Community and Community Hospice.
St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.