Richard Leon Lansford, 76, Owensville, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Harry S. Truman VA Hospital in Columbia.
He was born Feb. 21, 1950, to the late Robert Leon and Esther Pauline (Biehl) Lansford in Owensville.
He was united in marriage to Shirley Gallagher on July 20, 1974, at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Owensville.
Rich was very proud of his military service, spending 18 months in Vietnam. He was a sports enthusiast and played softball for the Owensville Blues and Merchants softball team. He was a brown belt in Karate. Rich also coached Little League baseball. He loved running and accomplished running four marathons in New York, one in St. Louis, and the historic Mother Road Marathon which went through several states along Route 66 ending in Joplin.
Rich was a member of the Owensville VFW Post No. 6133, the Owensville Moose Lodge and attended St. Peter’s United Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by parents, Leon and Pauline; grandparents, Ben and Arebia Biehl, Buell and Bonnie Lansford and Velma Lansford; mother-in-law, Darlis Gallagher; brother-in-law, Jerry Claas; and nephews, Luke and Scott Lansford.
Rich is survived by wife, Shirley of the home; sons, Russell and wife Brooklyn of Longwood, Fla., Jeremy Lansford of St. Clair, and daughter, Amy Lansford and companion Kyle Schraier of Clearwater, Fla.; sisters, Janet McMinn of Gerald, PeeWee Howard and husband Kenny of Owensville; brothers, Bob Lansford and wife Mae of Owensville and Tom Lansford and companion Melody Murphy of Fulton; grandchildren, Domanic Carroll-Lansford and Amber Peters of Rolla, Xander Lansford of St. Clair, Peyton and Diego Lansford of Owensville, and Levi and Logan Lansford of Longwood, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Caden and Rowan Lansford of Rolla and Octavia Lansford of Owensville.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday Sept. 4, at Countryside Memorial Gardens in Owensville, with Rev. Van Lahmeyer officiating.
Memorial contributions suggested to the Owensville VFW Post 6133.
Arrangements entrusted to Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville.
