Richard E. Carver

Richard Ellison Carver passed away peacefully at the age of 85 at his home in Sarasota, Florida on Friday, May 5, 2023. Richard was born on August 28, 1937, in Des Moines, IA to Maurice (Red) and Alice (Ellison) Carver, and was a big brother to Stephen Carver (deceased). Richard lost his beloved wife, Judith, in January after 63 years of marriage. They never liked to be apart and are now reunited and together for eternity, surrounded by their many Siberian Huskies and Cardigan Corgi. He was a proud father of four children – Kathryn (RJ) Binau, Stephen (Wendy) Carver, Cynthia (Patrick) Smith, and Susan (Mark) Pendergrass. Richard loved being a grandfather to his nine grandchildren – Caitlin, Shannon, Alexa, Collin, Christopher, Beau, Sheridan, Kevin, and Hannah – and three great-grandchildren. Richard attended the University of Iowa, where he joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, and then graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He and Judith met on a blind date while he was at Bradley and it was love at first sight. After college, Richard carried on his late dad’s legacy as president of Carver Lumber Company. He also served in the Air Force Reserve Command, attaining the rank of colonel. Richard was a pillar of his community and force to be reckoned with. His tenacity and passion led him to a long career in public service. Richard was never one to let a problem go unsolved. When he and his neighbors were struggling to get their streets plowed and trash picked up, he gathered folks around his kitchen table and devised a plan to get their small township incorporated into the city of Peoria. But kitchen table conversations were just the start. He ran for the city council in his twenties and then spent nearly two decades as Peoria’s mayor. During his tenure, he transformed downtown Peoria, building a Civic Center and ushering in a new University of Illinois medical school campus, among other things. The job of mayor suited Richard perfectly - he would happily recount the time two local tavern owners took out a contract on his life when he told them he wouldn’t accept their offer of a bribe in return for a liquor license. Fortunately, he lived to tell the tale. He never stopped pursuing his vision and rarely took “no” for an answer. By the late 1970’s, Richard’s career moved to the national stage. He was appointed to presidential commissions under both President Carter and President Reagan. He spearheaded a “Mayors for Reagan” campaign and was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management during the Reagan administration. His time at the Pentagon was a proud accomplishment, and he called the Washington, D.C. area home for nearly 30 years. Travel was an enormous passion for Richard and Judy. They made it to nearly every corner of the globe, including mainland China, Taiwan, Scandinavia, Russia, and Papua New Guinea. Germany, however, held his heart. According to Richard, the best cars, beer, coffee, and bread can all be found in Germany. He grew the relationship between Peoria and its German sister city, Friedrichshafen, into a strong and long-lasting bond. In 2013, Judy and Richard moved to Sarasota for the sunny weather, where they enjoyed afternoons on the lanai with their corgis, Jackson and Jack. In his retirement, Richard had two homes on two golf courses, and you could often find him on the green. And if you ran into Richard golfing, you might just have overheard some very colorful language alongside his big, booming laugh. Richard was a presence that couldn’t be missed and he will be dearly remembered by many. The family requests that any donations be made to Mark Linder Walk for the Mind.

Tributes

Richard E. Carver

August 28, 1937 - May 5, 2023