Richard Edwin Ping, age 83, of Belleville, Ill., passed away February 21, 2018 at his home, surrounded by his loved ones and his pastor Rev. Becky Williams.

Richard was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church of O'Fallon. He served in the US Army Reserves. He was an independent milk distributor for Prairie Farms Dairy for 40 years. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, and nature. He bowled on numerous bowling leagues and loved to golf with his friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Ivan H. Ping, mother Hattie Ping, sister Ann Touchette, brother Ivan E. Ping, sister Betty Ping, and great-granddaughter Hope Erhardt.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margie, nee Steinberg, Ping; daughters Karen Ping, Betty (James) Erhardt, and Amy Ping, all of Belleville; grandsons Robert Erhardt of Madison, Wisc., and Steven (Caitlyn) Erhardt of LaCrosse, Wisc.; great-grandson Theodore Erhardt of LaCrosse, Wisc.; brother Paul (Marilyn) Ping of Coulterville, Ill., sister Elsie (Murray) Aron of Fresno, Calif., brother-in-law Vernon (Kathy) Steinberg of Swansea, Ill., brother-in-law Gary Steinberg of Hoyleton, Ill., sister-in-law Nancy Ping of O'Fallon, Ill. and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to O'Fallon First United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Southern Illinois .

Visitation: Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Saturday, February 24, 2018 at O'Fallon First United Methodist Church, 504 E. Highway 50, O'Fallon, Ill.

Funeral: 12:00 p.m., Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the church, with Reverends Don Long and Rebecca Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, Ill.