Ramon Carver

1933 - 2018

CARVER, Ramon Earl Ramon Earl Carver, Actor, Playwright, Writer, College Professor, Arts Administrator, and Patron to the Arts was born in Tampa, Florida, January 13, 1933, and died January 16, 2018. He was the son of the late Juanita Wilder and Earle Earnest Carver. Married on July 10, 1959, to the greatest love of his life, Barbara Pemberton, for 58 years. He was the brother of Diane Carver Adams and step-brother to Earl Parsons, both deceased. He was father of an extraordinary daughter, Elizabeth "Libba" Carver Skarnulis, who survives him and proud to be father-in-law of Steve Skarnulis and doting grandfather of twins, Quinn Cille Skarnulis and Carver Gabrial Skarnulis. At the age of 16, Ramon had written and directed his first operetta, Sunday, Go to Meetin'. He graduated from Plant High School (Tampa, Florida) in 1951 and earned a Music degree from Baylor University in 1955, a Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic literature from Yale Drama School in 1961, a Doctor of Philosophy in Theatre from Denver University in 1970, and advanced studies at Oxford. At Yale, he was a William Morris Agency Fellow in 1960 and a Music Corporation of America Fellow in 1961, receiving the Samuel French Publishers National Playwriting Award in 1961 for his play, Take Care Y'Self. He served with the U. S. Army Signal Corps. as a non-commissioned officer, 1955-58, stationed in Germany. In August of 2017 he was selected for an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. He taught at Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, 1961-62, at Auburn University, AL, 1964-66, and at Angelo State University, TX, 1966 to 1994, where he was head of the Fine Arts Department, professor of drama, advisor for the theatre management graduate degree program, and University Theatre Director for a tenure of 28 years. Awarded an American College Theatre Festival Medallion in 1977, author of A Little Love and Affection, named "Best Original Play" by the American Theatre Association, 1981. He wrote over twenty full-length plays and wrote and directed historical pageants capturing San Angelo's history. He enjoyed directing later writing and directing with his creation of the Living Room Theatre of Salado where he directed over 75 shows. He wrote Lyrics for "In Time to Come," the Angelo State University Alma Mater, and he was especially proud of five scholarships at ASU which he helped to establish and later the designation of Ex Teacher of the Year at ASU in 1998. He loved ASU. He served on numerous boards during his 15 years of retirement in Salado, TX and he was named the "Salado Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2009." In 2007 he wrote Best and Worst Travels, a travel anthology published by Barnes & Noble and an e-book for Amazon Publishers. He enjoyed traveling and teaching English during several trips to China. He lived in Austin during his last years, writing plays. He was never not working on a play. He and Barbara were significant supporters of the Salado Institute of Humanities, and created a trust fund for the Austin Community Foundation. He loved family and friends, admitting he could fall in love two or three times a week in a good week. His devotion to his former students and their admiration toward him was one of his greatest achievements. He was gifted with finding hidden talents of students, young and old, and encouraging them to reach for more. He was a beyond proud of his grandson, Carver, for his "performances" as a goalie on the lacrosse field and adored coaching his granddaughter, Quinn, as she prepared for musical theatre college auditions at the end of 2017. Memorial services will be scheduled later in the spring of 2018. Plans are being discussed for a dedication in his name, as well. In lieu of flowers or donations, the family asks for friends and family to wait for more information that will come later as to how to help celebrate and remember his life. The family remains grateful to the Brookdale Gaines Ranch staff for their warm hearts and care, as well as Brookdale Hospice for their care during the last several weeks.