Theodore Raymond "Ted B" Bleil

Theodore Raymond "Ted B" Bleil, 78, was born on Sept 14, 1946, in Kansas City, MO, and died on August 4, 2025, in Columbia, MO. His parents were Mary (Mitchell) and Raymond Bleil. Ted was their only child, and clearly, their pride and joy. The family lived in Grandview where he attended public schools from 1st through 12th grade. He graduated in 1964.

From the time he was a boy, he fantasized about becoming a radio announcer. He enlisted his small 45 rpm record collection and a child-sized record player to enrich his play. One year at Christmastime, he submitted a list of what he wanted for Christmas that year, and it contained only one item: a microphone. He never said if he got one or not, but we found his Christmas list among his mother's cherished things when she died.

As he matured, he developed a desire to be a teacher. He later pursued and achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in biological sciences at Central Missouri State College (now known as Central Missouri University) in Warrensburg. He graduated in 1969 with honors.

By then, he had lost hope in his radio announcer pursuit and decided he would become a teacher. He used this degree to teach . . . one miserable school year . . . in the Raytown Middle School. He was actually grateful when Uncle Sam asked him to join the Army and prepare for duty in Viet Nam.

Ted served in the infantry there, carrying both a rifle and an army radio to keep his first lieutenant informed of developments. After 9 months he was wounded in two places by shrapnel and sent back to the States to heal. While recuperating, he enrolled and completed a Kansas City Career Academy course in broadcasting.

Upon graduation, he was hired by William R Tedrick at KWRT Radio in Boonville, where he served the Boonville community proudly for his entire 38-year career as the morning announcer. He loved it when people in the community referred to him as "the Voice of Boonville" as well as when they would request him to sing, "Happy Birthday" for one of their celebrating friends or relatives during his party line show.

Ted was also an ordained Elder in the Community of Christ Church and enjoyed his opportunities to share in ministry. He particularly liked preparing and delivering sermons, which was further evidence to suggest that his true gift was more that of a wordsmith.

In 1976, Ted married Kandys Eileen Collins at the church in Boonville. They had no children and were married for 48 years at the time of his passing. She survives.

Services for Ted will be held on Thursday, August 21, at 12:30 pm at the Community of Christ Church on Radio Hill Road (next to the radio station), with Dan Faust and Scott Norwood sharing leadership responsibilities. His interment will be at 3pm at the Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, MO with full military honors. His friends and listeners are invited to attend.

Arrangements are under the direction of Howard-Millard Funeral Home, 1397 Ashley Rd., Boonville, Mo 65233 (660) 882-3381. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.howardfh.com.