Theadora May Runck of Rifle died Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at Mantey Heights Care Center in Grand Junction. She was 91.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Rifle Funeral Home, 1400 Access Road in Rifle.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today, Nov. 14, at the Rifle Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Dene Johnson of the First Christian Church of Rifle officiating.

Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Rifle.

She was born Theadora May Ridgway on Oct. 14, 1912, in Lincoln, Neb., to Mable Dai Shaver and George Gillette Ridgway. She spent her childhood in College View, Neb.

She married Roger J. Runck in 1934 in Nebraska.

Mrs. Runck lived in Columbus, Ohio, before moving to Rifle seven years ago.

She was a homemaker and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Mrs. Runck loved doing ceramics, and invented a new color in the process called Theda Blue. She crafted harvest rings, cups, bowls and many other items. She also loved reading, and was a great fan of Louis L’Amour and other Western writers.

She was a devout Christian and loved to host Bible study for friends at her home. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by sisters Alberta Ridgway and Betty Sturm.

Mrs. Runck is survived by her husband of 69 years, Roger J. Runck; by sons and daughters-in-law Robert and Sallie Runck of Bedford, Mass., and Robin and Connie Runck of Burbank, Calif.; by daughters and son-in-law Lahna Rogene and Mathew Neely of Winchester, Va., and Rhonda Runck of Columbus, Ohio; by a brother, George Ridgway of Maine; by four grandchildren; and by special friends Pat Cooley of Rifle and Jane Draghi of Columbus, Ohio.

Rifle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Tejon, Suite 201, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.