Dr. William Chester Runnels

Dr. William Chester Runnels was born on January 11, 1935, in Alice, Texas. Chester was raised on a farm in Riviera, Texas, and after earning his drivers license, daily delivered the milk from the family cows to the dairy processors to earn money for college.  He also was a musician with a particular love for singing country music, while playing the guitar/piano. Chester met his wife, Virginia Louise Runnels, in 4H, and they married on August 25, 1955, and remained married for 68 years until his demise on the Lord’s Day, December 3, 2023.

Chester went on to attend Texas A&I University where he earned both a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Biology. Chester then worked at the Institute of Marine Science at the University of Texas in Aransas Pass, Texas, for a short period.  In 1960, Chester and Louise were blessed with their first daughter, Claire.

In late 1960, Chester and Louise then relocated to College Station, Texas, where Chester earned  a doctorate in Oceanography from Texas A&M University. In 1961, Chester and Louise were blessed with another daughter, Carole.

In 1965, Chester and Louise relocated to Beaumont, Texas, where Chester served as a professor of Biology, and as the head of the Oceanography/Marine Biology Department. While at Lamar, Chester published a lab manual of marine biology and diatoms.  Chester’s academic accomplishments also included discovering 3 types of  previously unknown algae and teaching many students who have remembered him fondly to the family.  During his career at Lamar, Chester and Louise were blessed with two more children, Cristy in 1966, and Clay in 1970.

In 1975, in addition to his duties at Lamar University, Chester contracted work and performed research with Analytical Laboratories in Houston. This position often required him to testify as an expert witness in court cases where contaminants, pollutants, and the like had resulted in alleged damages.

Chester was a man of faith and set a Christian example for his family, his church, and all those with whom he came in contact. He gave freely of his time to serve as Elder of The Meadows Church of Christ (formerly known as Ridgewood).  He raised his family in the Word and ministered to those in need throughout his lifetime. Chester made a positive, loving and indellible mark on his family and all whom he met.

Chester’s hobbies included fishing, hunting, gardening and music.  He taught his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren about God, and nature, giving them life skills and a foundation of faith.  Even into his last days, he was always thinking about one more fishing or hunting trip and looked forward to every event with family and loved ones.

Chester’s commitment to God and faith was clear in the patient, forgiving and loving example he showed to all those around him. Chester will be immensely missed but will live on in the hearts and memories of his family, friends and others whose lives he positively impacted.

Survivors include his wife, Louise Runnels; children, Carole Lein of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Cristy Stanford and her husband, Johnny, of Beaumont; and Clay William Runnels, MD and his wife, Emily, of Johnson City, Tennessee; grandchildren, Joshua Stokley and his wife, Dalena , of Sour Lake; Jordan Stokley and his wife, Courtney, of Beaumont; Zach Lein and his wife, Shelly, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Katherine Kaiser of The Woodlands; Daniel Kaiser of Phoenix, Arizona; and Millicent Runnels, Madeline Runnels, Mabry Runnels, Merritt Runnels, and Manning Runnels, all of Johnson City, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Eddie Ducsac, Connor Stokley, Zoey Stokley, Grant Stokley, Asher Lein, Liam Lein, and Baker Lein; and many beloved church family, former students, and extended family and friends through the years.

He is preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Claire Louise Runnels Stokley.

A gathering of Dr. Runnels’ family and friends will be from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., Thursday, December 7, 2023, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023, at Broussard’s, with his interment to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont.