Cpl. Luke S. Runyan

RENTON, WASHINGTON - Cpl. Luke S. Runyan, 21, formerly of Spring Grove, died Sunday morning, February 17, 2008, in Diyala Province, Iraq, in a dismounted engagement with insurgents while coming to the aid of his sister unit already in contact. He was the husband of Courtney Runyan. A memorial service celebrating Luke's life will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2008 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church, 250 Trinity Rd., York with the Reverends Paul W. and Sara A. Gausman officiating. A visitation in the church fellowship hall will immediately follow the service. Burial with military honors will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2008 in Arlington National Cemetery. Murphy Funeral Home, 4510 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA and Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 1551 Kenneth Rd., York are in charge of arrangements. Luke was born June 17, 1986, in York. He was the son of Lynette Runyan-Baker of Spring Grove and Marc A. Runyan of York. He was a 2004 graduate of Spring Grove High Area School where he participated on the school tennis team and in swimming programs. Immediately following high school Luke enlisted in the Army earning his marksman award and was currently serving as a squad leader in Iraq. He was a member of Saint Paul Lutheran Church and had also attended Asbury United Methodist Church. Luke had many interests including hunting, fishing and snowboarding, but he especially enjoyed his time while surfing. In addition to his wife and parents, Luke leaves his daughter, Brynn Runyan of Renton, WA; his brother, Christopher T. Runyan of York; his step mother, Kathleen Runyan of York; his step father, William Baker of Spring Grove; his step sister, Lena Baker of Spring Grove; his step brothers, Kyle and Sean Anderson, both of York; and his maternal grandparents, Carl and Delores Smyser of York. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Luke and Brynn Runyan Memorial Fund in care of Marc Runyan, 2490 Fairway Dr., York, PA 17408.