Ray E. Bullock

Ray E. Bullock, Ed.D, age 83 of Upland, passed away May 2, 2014 at the Upland University Nursing Center.

Ray was born August 11, 1930 in Somerset, Kentucky, the son of the late B.F. and Mary (Smith) Bullock. The family moved to the Cumberland, Indiana area where Ray grew up, graduating from Warren Central High School in 1948. He is a Korean War Veteran who served in the Air Force with the Pacific 57th Strategic Air Weather Recon Squadron. After his deployment he was assigned to the Lake Charles, LA, Air Force Base weather squadron. Ray graduated from Ball State University in 1957 with a B.S. degree in Art Education. While there, he lettered in both track and cross country.

He was married to Jeanne (Coplin) on December 1, 1957. Ray continued his education at Ball State, completing a Master's Degree in 1961 and a Doctorate in Art Education in 1978. In 1977, he received the Outstanding Indiana Student Education Research Award and in 1978 the Ball State University Most Distinguished Dissertation Award. Ray's teaching experience included grades 1-12 for the Alexandria Monroe Township School Corporation and secondary art at Oak Hill High School. In 1966 he joined the Taylor University Art Department where he developed an art education program. Ray taught for the Taylor Art Department for 25 years. In 1984 he was recruited to form and coach the first women's cross country team at Taylor. Ray's teams advanced to National cross country championships six of the 14 years he served as coach. During that time he also served as Eligibility Chair for the NCCAA and in 1999 was inducted into that organization's Athletic Hall of Fame. Ray was an avid jogger and competitive runner who completed 17 marathons, over 30 half-marathons and many shorter races, making nearly annual appearances in the Weaver Popcorn race and the Running of the Mounds competition. He became a recognizable figure on the streets of Upland. Beginning in 1966, Ray spent 19 summers coaching Little League baseball, including a series of 48 consecutive wins. His love of travel took him and his wife to Europe several times, on numerous visits to Hawaii and extensive travel within the continental U.S.

Ray was a member of the First Church of God where he served twice as chair of the building committee as well as in other capacities. He created a 16 foot metal enameled cross twice for the church chancel.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeanne Bullock of Upland, Indiana; two sons, Kurt Bullock of Traverse City, Michigan and Kris (Jill) Bullock of Lawton, Michigan; three granddaughters; one sister, Dorothy Dunham of Greenville, N. Carolina; four nephews and three nieces.

A half-hour viewing will precede a celebration of Ray's life at 10:00 a.m. at the Marion Church of God, 450 W. 50th Street, Marion, Indiana on Saturday, May 10, 2014. Reverend Bill Fulda will be officiating with Reverend Tom South and Reverend Larry Kendall assisting.

Burial Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Jefferson Township Cemetery, Upland, Indiana.

Arrangements entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, 1202 Kem Road, Marion, Indiana.

Memorials may be made to the Marion First Church of God; or to the Ray E. Bullock Endowed Scholarship at Taylor University.

Online condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com