Dr. Raymond Lindsay Ethington attended university at Iowa State College in Ames. He achieved a bachelor's degree in Geology in May of 1951 and was inducted into the United States Army in June of that year. Ray served the Army in the ranks of private and corporal with the 506th Airborne Infantry Regiment and the101st Airborne Division in Fairbanks, Alaska until he was discharged in March of 1953. He continued to serve in the Army Reserves until 1958.

Ray began his PhD studies at the University of Iowa. Upon completion of his PhD in 1958, Ray moved to Tempe, Arizona, where he took his first teaching job at Arizona State University.

In the fall of 1962, Ray was appointed to the faculty at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he began a long and very respected career. As a tenured professor for the Department of Geology, Ray taught both entry level classes to underclassmen, as well as graduate courses to graduate students.

He did research that focused on Invertebrate Paleontology, Bio Stratigraphy, and Micro Paleontology. He is credited for publishing more than 75 papers and making numerous presentations at professional meetings. He served for many years as both faculty and director of the University of Missouri Geology Branson Field Laboratory, a summer field camp for Geology majors, located in the mountains near Lander, Wyoming. He was appointed as Professor Emeritus of the University of Missouri- Columbia in 2000.

He also served as editor of the respected Journal of Paleontology, SEPM Foundation officer, and chief officer of the international Pander Society (conodont workers), SEPM president, University of Missouri Geology Department Chair, and mentor to countless students and colleagues from around the world.

Ray received many professional awards, including being a 50 Year Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a Pander Society Medalist, a member of the Jefferson Club -University of Missouri, and a recipient of the prestigious Raymond C. Moore Medal for his significant contributions to the field of Geology.

Raymond was a devoted husband to Leslie; a loving father to children Elaine (Benjamin) Bluml, Lee's Summit, MO, and Mary (John) Pratt, Columbia, MO.; and a proud grandfather of grandchildren, John (Keri) Pratt, Jacob (Bridget) Pratt, Joseph (Emma) Pratt, and Jeffrey (Shanna) Bluml and eight great grandchildren, Ava, Lillian, Isabelle, Connor, Elliott, Ethan, Jalah, and Jaxx.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Robert. He will be dearly missed and forever cherished by his family.

Funeral services were held on April 6, 2026.

Memorial donations are suggested to: the Dr. Raymond Ethington Geology Student Scholarship Fund. Donations can be mailed to: Mizzou Gift Processing, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia MO 65211 Or sent through the following link : mizzou.us/EthingtonMemorialGifts.