Richard S. "Dick" Erdel

Richard S. Erdel, 80 of Columbia, passed away at 9:19 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Caring Hearts and Hands Hospice in Columbia.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, October 16, 2026, at Pickering Funeral Home in Mexico. Private services will be held. Burial will be in St. Brendan’s Catholic Cemetery in Mexico.

Richard S. Erdel was born March 6, 1946 in Mexico, MO to John and Kay Hagan Erdel. He married Becky Jane Burton in 1971, who survives at the home.

Dick attended St. Brendan’s grade school and graduated from Mexico High School in 1964. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Bachelors of Journalism in 1969. He served in the United States Army at Ft. Hood, Texas and Bulford, England 1969 – 1971. He attended Central Missouri University, Warrensburg, MO upon discharge from the military.

Mr. Erdel joined the A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, MO in 1972 in a career that spanned advertising, sales and marketing assignments with Chance (Hubbell Power Systems). He retired May 31, 2018 as show and national events manager of Hubbell Power Systems after serving as advertising manager of Hubbell Power Systems for more than 20 years. Mr. Erdel was a former Kiwanian and Rotarian and member of St. Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church, Mexico.

In addition to his wife Becky, survivors include one son, Grant and his wife Ansley and three grandchildren, Hagan, Tom and Will Erdel of Washington, DC; and a daughter, Courtney Moses and husband Chuck of Lenexa, KS and two grandchildren, Cash and Lawson Woods of Lenexa, KS; His siblings include one brother Dan and wife Cheri Erdel of Mexico; and one sister Kathy Beykirch and husband Paul of Sedalia; as well as nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bill Erdel of the St. Louis area.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be given to Caring Hearts and Hands Hospice. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.