Biography: Mary Josephine McKnight Runge, 85, of Little Rock passed away January 3, 2010 in Denver, Colorado, where she had lived since 2005. She was born May 11, 1924 in Little Rock, Arkansas to the late Paul H. and Blanche Williams McKnight. She is preceded in death by her husband, William H. Runge and a son, Paul W.Runge. Mary Jo played in the Central High School Marching Band and played String Bass for a dance band at Texas Women's University where she received a degree in Music. She later received a degree in American History from Hendrix College. Mary Jo worked as a medical photographer at LSU and then at the University in Memphis where she met William, also a medical photographer. Mary Jo moved to Phoenix, Arizona and then Long Beach, California after her marriage to William but they returned to Little Rock in 1969. She was a member of Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, Arkansas. Mary Jo played cello in a string quartet and enjoyed traveling and playing around the state. She also was involved with historic preservation in Little Rock and enjoyed being a member of an antique club. Mary Jo is survived by her only daughter, Mary Keely Runge of Greenwood Village, Colorado and a grandson, Ethan Acosta also of Greenwood Village, Colorado. Visitation will be at Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, Arkansas from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday, March 29, 2010. Funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m., Monday, March 29, 2010 at Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church, officiated by Reverend Paul Mayerhoff. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park, 7401 Hwy. 5 N., Alexander, AR. The family requests that everyone wear yellow in honor of Mary Jo’s love of the color yellow. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Autism Research Institute, 4182 Adams Ave., San Diego, CA 92116, Alzheimer's Research Labs, University Of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, Autism Society of America, 4340 East West Hwy. Suite 350, Bethesda, MD 20814-3067 or Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church, 449 Millwood Circle, Maumelle, AR 72113. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com