Richard Billups

Richard Lee Billups was born October 16th, 1943 in Scotland County, Missouri, on the old family farm. He died October 13th, 2025 at the Scotland County Hospital at the age of 81.

On July 22nd, 1967 he married Joella Kay Gearing in St. Louis, Missouri. They had two children, Thomas Benjamin Billups and Julie Ann Billups Vaughan. They have seven grandchildren: Victoria Vaughan, Jordan Vaughan, Lily Billups, Alexis Vaughan, Rose Billups, Christian Vaughan, and Zane Billups other survivors include his Sisters-In-Law: Lois Eldridge and Nelda Billups.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Brainerd and Genola Billups, and in-laws Elmo and Sylvia Gearing; as well as brother Donald Billups and sister Mary Anna Andrews.

Richard graduated from Scotland County High School in 1961. He attended college at Hannibal LaGrange in Hannibal, Missouri and Kirksville State Teacher’s College. In 1965, he got his diesel mechanic’s license from Greer Tech in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Greer Tech, he was drafted into the United States Army as a mechanic. After serving his two years, he went to St. Louis where he married Joella.

They lived and raised their children in St. Louis before they retired in 2000 to live out his remaining time on the farm he grew up on.