Dr. Raymond K. "Ray" Zarvell

KEWANEE - Dr. Raymond K. “Ray” Zarvell, 78, of Kewanee, passed away at 10:34 a.m., Sunday, January 15, 2017 at OSF Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee.

Cremation has been accorded and memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, January 21 at the First United Methodist Church in Kewanee. Pastor Bob Phillips will officiate. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Inurnment will be in Pleasant View Cemetery in Kewanee. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Dr. Ray K. Zarvell Delta Upsilon Endowed Scholarship, the Kewanee Animal Shelter or to the ALS Association. Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee is in charge of arrangements.  

He was born May 12, 1938 in Kewanee, the son of Raymond W. and Lillian V. (Odey) Zarvell. Survivors include two sons, Doug (Debi) Zarvell of Peoria and Paul (Andrea) Zarvell of Eureka, his sister, Carole (John) Blake of Kewanee, four grandchildren, Taylor and Sydney Zarvell and Paige and Luke Zarvell, sister-in-law, Gale Zarvell of Kewanee, niece, Angie Zarvell (Paul Matuszyk) of Kewanee, nephew, Greg Zarvell of Kewanee and great nephews, Carter, Logan and Brady. Also surviving are several cousins and his dogs, Daisy and Duey. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary Zarvell.  

Ray was a graduate of Kewanee High School in 1956, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Bradley University and his Ph.D. from Illinois State University. Early in his career he was a teacher at Williamsfield and Limestone High Schools and in 1968 was named State of Illinois Teacher of the Year. From 1968-2007 he worked at Bradley University, holding several different positions over the years and in 1983 became the Executive Director of the Center for Student Development and Health Services. Dr. Zarvell impacted the lives of thousands of students as he oversaw counseling, testing, orientation, advisement, learning assistance and peer counseling programs. He also served his profession and the community in numerous ways. Among them he was founder of the National Peer Counseling Association; served on the regional planning committee of the National Orientation Directors Association ; and was founding director of a major component of the community mental health system in the State of Illinois for which he was awarded an honorary doctorate. He was elected to the board of directors of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity and was recognized in 2001 with its Founders Medal for Service. In 2016 Ray was the recipient of the Lydia Moss Bradley Award at Bradley University for his outstanding commitment and service to the university.  

Ray was an avid musician and trumpeter and played in Jazz on the Side and in the Brass Ensemble at the First United Methodist Church in Peoria. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed the mountains of Colorado.

He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

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