Charles E. Dudley, 88, of Columbia, died Jan. 6, 2024, at Mercy Hospital South, St. Louis. He was born Feb. 23, 1935, in East St. Louis.

Charles was retired from Ameren formerly Union Electric as a distribution dispatcher. He was a member of Columbia Blue Lodge 474 A.F. & A.M, past master, and an Ainad Shriner the in clown unit and a life member of the Columbia American Legion Post 581, having received his 50 year membership pin in May of 2023.  Charles had served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marines Corps. 

Surviving are his wife of 68 years, whom he married on April 16, 1955 in East Louis, Amelia “Lou” (nee Gonzalez) Dudley; son Mark (Terry) Dudley; daughters Diane (Tim) Netemeyer, Donna (Chris) Neumann and Mary (John) Johnston; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; along with other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Alta Louise Dudley, brothers Ralph Dudley, Edward L. Dudley and Paul Raymond Dudley and grandsons Matthew Christopher Neumann and Travis Ray Schlemmer. 

Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Leesman Funeral home in Columbia. 

There will be a Masonic funeral ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. by Columbia Blue Lodge 474 A.F & A.M. 

Private family interment will be held at a later date in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis.  

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to: Shriner’s Hospital for Children, St. Louis; or Columbia American Legion Post 581, Columbia.