Herbert A. Runkles, Jr.

Herbert Augusta “Uncle Herbie” Runkles fell asleep in death on Tuesday October 4, 2022 at the age of 96 with family at his side in his home. He was born to Herbert Augustus Runkles Sr. and Rosemond Josephine Livesy on July 22, 1926 at the homestead in Graceham, Maryland.

Herbie had a clear and vivid memory of his life. He used to talk about his past as though it happened yesterday. When he was 16, Herbie went to the Reck Family Farm in Mount Airy, MD. where they had 30 cows to milk by hand- which was a large number in those days. He stayed there 10 years. It was there he learned the values of working hard and living with moral principles.

When he was 26, Herbie joined the US Army, giving himself three years to decide if it would be his new career. ­­­After the first year, he knew it would not be. He did make good friends while serving, and had a few good-time stories to tell about each of them.

Herbie returned to Maryland after the military and, in 1960, he moved to Frederick into a one room, long term motel called the Buckeye. He lived there for over 50 years. He came to be a handy man around the motel, helping out Miss Hazel as she ran the business and raised her son and daughter. Through the next 5 decades Herbie watched as little Larry Miller grew from boy to man, married his wife Jane and raised their two beautiful girls, Mandi and Kelci. The Millers remained very close to Herbie throughout his life as a “replacement” for the family Herbie didn’t have.

Between 2005-2022, Herbie traveled the country several times over with his niece Deborah and her husband Isaac, seeing sights he had only read about in books. From the Grand Canyon to the Blue Ridge Mountains, from the Redwoods of Northern California to the beaches of North Carolina, from the plains of Oklahoma to the Adirondacks in Upstate New York. And an honorable mention to the John Deere Worldwide Headquarters in Moline, Illinois- one of his favorite tours! Herbie moved to live with the duo in California in 2014 and stayed with them until his final move to Upstate New York.

Herbie was a “rough ole character” who worked hard and kept to himself mostly, dabbling with bulldozing and clearing trees, and maintenance and repair work for the motel where he lived. He loved hiking the hills around Frederick, marveling the animal world around him. He enjoyed woodworking- taking up “turning” at the age of 87!  He was an avid reader, and was interested in books on heavy farm equipment, commercial and domestic trucks, and world and US history. Of course, he loved his old western films and classic movies from the 20’s through the 70’s, and he listened to classical music till he couldn’t hear it anymore!

Herbie became interested in a study of the Bible in his late 50’s. He said he always knew there was something greater than him; he knew there was a Creator of life. When he was 89 years old, he began a personal, one on one Bible study with members of the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He began to learn the truth about God and His message in the Bible. Herbie said that finding out God’s name is Jehovah after all these years was a turning point for him (Psalm 83:18). He appreciated the many truths that were being revealed to him, realizing they were written in the Bible all along, and he was now learning how to find them on his own! He was building a personal relationship with Jehovah God that would allow him to benefit from the promise of a resurrection to a beautiful new life in God’s Kingdom government, with a trusted ruler, Jesus Christ. This comforted him to the point that he no longer feared his passing, he accepted that he could not live forever… at least not yet! Herbie’s family and friends can look forward to seeing Herbie “leap like the deer” in the resurrection and New World to come! (Isaiah 35:6) (Acts 4:33, John 11.:25, John 5:28, 29, Acts 24:15, 1Corinthians 15:21, Matthew 22:31, 32)

Herbie is predeceased in death by his parents, and a beloved brother, Melvin Runkles. He is survived by his Sister-in-law, Sukcha Runkles of Lawton, OK; Nieces, Deborah (Isaac) Jenkins of Galway, NY, Katherine Runkles and Bobbie Lee Runkles of Lawton, OK; Grand Nieces and Nephew: Alyson Sutherlin, Alaina Norton, Perri Jenkins and Isaac “Tre” Jenkins III; and surrogate family Larry and Jane Miller, their daughters Mandi and Kelci, and their granddaughters Morgan and Haleigh, all of Frederick, MD.

In lieu of a formal service, a Memorial Talk to honor the life of Herbert Runkles will be held virtually on Zoom with a date to be announced. Invitations will be sent out to family and friends all over the country. In addition, a picture slideshow will be sent out to family and friends in the following days.