Evelyn Thornton Runge

Evelyn Thornton Runge of Greenville, SC, died peacefully at home on May 16, 2025. Evelyn, affectionally known as “Ebie” to her close friends and family, was born on February 10, 1933 in Athens, Georgia to Charles Weir Thornton and Collette Whitehead Thornton. She was a sister to Charles Thornton (deceased). She attended Athens High School, Mount Vernon College in Washington, DC and the University of Georgia. College was interrupted by her marriage to the love of her life, Louis Thompson Runge, “Louie”, which lasted for 65 years before Louie’s passing in 2017. Louie’s service in the armed forces took them to California and Germany before finally settling in Greenville in 1959.

Ebie was a devoted mother and grandmother and served/volunteered for numerous organizations including Christ Church Episcopal School, Christ Church Episcopal, Meals on Wheels, the McKissick Book Club, the Debutante Club of Greenville, The Quadrille and the Dorothy Haynesworth Garden Club. Ebie loved to travel, but no time was better spent than with her family at Lake Burton, Georgia.

Ebie is survived by her 5 children, Collette Runge Torghele and husband Bob of Ogden, Utah; Eyleen Runge Barnes and husband Brook of Greenville, SC; Louis T. Runge, Jr. (Tom) and wife Anne of Columbia, SC; Charles Eyl Runge and wife Luanne of Greenville, SC; William T. Runge (Bill) and wife Ashley of Greenville, SC, and 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Ebie will be most remembered as a dear and loyal friend, a loving and treasured mother and grandmother and most of all, a devoted wife. She will be greatly missed.

The family expresses its heart felt gratitude to Charlene Ramsey and her staff at Angel Heart Caregiver Services, especially Melissa, Susan, Shareka, Lyubov, Finda, and Nohemy.

We will celebrate Ebie’s life at Christ Church Episcopal on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. in the church. The family invites all to join them for a reception afterwards in the All Saints Center, Room 100.

In lieu of flowers, it is Ebie’s desire for memorial gifts to be made to Christ Church Episcopal, 10 North Church Street, Greenville, SC 29601 or Clement’s Kindness, 10 South Academy Street, Greenville, SC 29601.

Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown Easley, www.RobinsonFuneralHomes.com.