Ron Azdell, 72, of Mexico, died Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021 at H.S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Arnold Funeral Home with burial and military honors to follow at Bethel Cemetery. Visitation is Friday evening from 5– 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ron was born in Mexico on March 28, 1948, the son of Dozier Edwin and Alice Marjorie (Pilcher) Azdell. He attended grade school at Botts School and graduated from Mexico High School in 1966. He attended Wichita State University before enlisting in the U. S. Army where he served from 1969 – 1971.
He was in the Army 101st Airborne, 101st assault helicopter battalion, A Company, known as the Comancheros. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Ron returned to the family farm and on Aug. 5, 1972 he married Martha Sims in Thompson, and she survives at the family home.
In addition to his wife Martha, he is survived by three children; Chris (Sarah) Azdell of Mexico, Jason (Nicole) Azdell of Columbia, and Sally (Mark) Miller of Mexico; eight grandchildren, Bryan Roth and his fiancée Amber, Megan Azdell, Mattie Roth, Samantha Mullins, Tucker Mullins, Watson Azdell, Rory Azdell, and Anders Azdell; two sisters, Donna Fisher and her companion Don Evans of Godfrey, IL, and Kara (Josh) Kempker of Jefferson; a sister-in-law Cathy Azdell of Rush Hill; mother-in-law Velma Allen of Mexico; brothers and sisters-in-law, Tom (Sue) Sims of Raymore, Sharon Sims of Maryville, Kathy Sims of Mexico, Warren (Cheryl) Sims of Blue Springs, and Deanna Sims of Centralia; two uncles, Ned Azdell and Berry (Jo Ann) Azdell of Mexico and an aunt, Maxine Pilcher of Mexico.
Ron worked at A.B. Chance for 43 years, retiring in 2016. He was a lifelong member of Bethel Presbyterian Church, belonged to the Centralia VFW Post 6276, served on the MO Veterans Home Assistance League and had been active in the Mexico Optimist Club and 4-H.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother Phil Azdell.
Memorials may be made to the MO Veterans Home or Marpat Aviation which helps keep the helicopter he flew maintained and flying.
Condolences at www.arnoldfh.com.
