David Paul Rundle was born July 19, 1958, in Logan, Kansas, to John W. "Jack" and Sylvia Rundle.  He was their 6 ^th born. David wasn't breathing when born but upon baptism by Doc A.B. Limes, he took his first breath.  Sylvia knew from that moment that David was going to be special.   The family made several trips to Kansas City to the KU Med Center, trying to figure out the best course to take with David as he grew and developed. Our hometown Dr. often managed to come up with tickets to Kansas City Athletics baseball games on some of those visits.  Those baseball games helped make those long drives better.  Early therapeutic interventions involved braces & a "standing/walking table" and physical therapy continued after he moved to Wichita. But he spent his entire life in a wheelchair and unless you were around him quite a bit, his speech was difficult to understand. And yet, David had what his brothers and sisters would describe as an adventurous childhood. If one has to take risks to live life more fully, Mike seemed to be the captain of risking David's life for maximum experience. This usually involved seeing how fast David could be driven in a wagon OR wheelchair, or how fast and far a sled could be ridden. The key to these shenanigans was "inclusion" and "adaptive technology" well before they became a thing. Whatever they were up to "the boys" were figuring out how to bring David along. (And, his sisters, too.)

Our parents told us "David wasn't a handicapped person but a person with a handicap." Sylvia worked tirelessly to find a place that could offer him the educational setting he could thrive in.  With the help of Robert "Bob" Wells, superintendent of Logan Public Schools, David attended the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita from shortly after his 6th birthday until he finished Jr. High at St. Patrick's at the age of 16.  He moved back home and attended high school half days in Logan, Kansas. His brother Leland, two close friends, Ron Jansonius and Jay Becker along with others made sure David had the true high school experience.  That experience at times would have been judged dangerous by Jack and Sylvia, but David had many thrills.

David was valedictorian of his class when he graduated in 1978.  He attended Wichita State University and graduated in 1985 with a Journalism Degree. He was regularly featured for the Wichita Eagle-Beacon as a guest columnist, usually advocating for disability rights and awareness. He had a syndicated column for several newspapers in Kansas including The Logan Republican .  Writing all those columns was not an easy task; David used one hand for the telephone, to run his wheelchair, and to type — using one finger. David published three books, History from the Heart, A Memoir of Sylvia L. Rundle, Briefcase Symphony and Love and Dust: Poems and Essays.

David was a devout catholic and an integral part of the Holy Savior parish in Wichita.  The fondness and admiration for David expressed by many parishioners reflect his place in the hearts of those who met him.

David lived at the Timbers, a housing development built by the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation for persons with disabilities, from the time it opened until his death.  A leader and collaborator among the residents, volunteering on committees and organizing activities, David was the Executive and founding Librarian of Clyde C. Berger Memorial Library.  He served as the chairman for the Timbers Legislative Affairs Committee.  In 2000, the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas honored David with the Peter John Loux Aware.  David was nominated by members of the community for his "exceptional desire and dedication in overcoming the difficulties of a physical or neurological disability."  David was a champion for people with disabilities and fought many years for positive change.  He was both a positive influence and role model. He had the "stubborn Rundle/O'Connell gene shared by all his siblings and used it to make life better for people in his lifetime leaving many feeling blessed to have him in their lives.

After receiving last rites and a final blessing David passed away October 25, 2021, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita from injuries resulting from an accident.  He was surrounded by his siblings, a sister-in-law, his two Godchildren and nephew. David is preceded in death by his parents, John W. "Jack" and Sylvia Rundle, step-mother, Rachel Rundle, brother John Rundle, brother-in-law, Rick Mendoza, and dear friend Beth Sneed.  David is survived by his brothers, Tim and wife Noreen, Mike, and partner, Tony, Leland, James and wife Cindy, sister-in-law Carolyn and sisters Shirley Mendoza and Kathleen Brewster and husband Gary.  David is also survived by sixty-four nieces and nephews, greats and great-greats.  Visitation will be held Friday, October 29, 12-8 pm with the rosary at 6:30 at the Logan Funeral Home.  Funeral Mass will be Saturday morning October 30 at 10:00 am private burial at a later date.  David's two books will be available at the visitation and funeral at no cost. Voluntary donations made for the book will be used for a future project at the Timbers.  Memorial contributions can also be made to either the Timbers or Holy Savior parish in Wichita.