Annie Runion

Annie "Loa" (Batson) Runion, area teacher, peacefully exchanged this earthly life for eternal life with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 13, 2012. "Death rides on every passing breeze, He lurks on every flower."

Loa was born in Makanda Township on Jan. 30, 1906 the last of nine children born to James Rolla and JoAnna (Hunsaker) Batson. She graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1927 and began her long career, teaching throughout many different communities in Southern Illinois. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Runion, of Herrin, Illinois, on June 28, 1929 in Carbondale, Illinois and he preceded her in death on Nov. 12, 1972. They were blessed with two children, Mauna Loa in 1932 and James Rolla "J.R." in 1935.