By Anna Michael
Enquirer contributor

WYOMING - Raymond Ekvall spent his life proving that it is possible to be logical and creative at the same time.

He was offered a scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia because he was an accomplished violinist. He was also offered a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania to study metallurgical engineering.

"He had to decide between music and engineering," said his wife, Shirley Ekvall. "So (he thought) to make a good living he should be an engineer."

Mr. Ekvall, who worked for General Electric for 38 years, died Thursday of a heart attack. The Wyoming resident was 69.

After earning his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ekvall worked in in Schenectady, N.Y., and Livermore, Calif. He moved to Cincinnati in 1966 to work at the GE Jet Engine plant, where he helped develop the Ibis program, an automatic inspection procedure for fan blades.

Mr. Ekvall also earned a master's degree in finance from Xavier University.

Mrs. Ekvall remembers her husband as a "true intellect" who had a passion for the humanities. "I called him a colorful engineer because he had so many interests. He wasn't just straight math."

Upon retiring, Mr. Ekvall attended Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra rehearsals and took art classes.

In addition to his wife and daughter, survivors include: one son, Brad of Cincinnati; a sister, Evelyn Bartram of Los Alamos, N.M.; a brother, Donald of Philadelphia, and a brother-in-law, Marvin Walberg of Lincoln, Neb.

Visitation is from 10-11 a.m. today at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 703 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45231. Services follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

Memorials: American Heart Association; Northminster Presbyterian Church; University of Cincinnati, College of Allied Health Sciences, P.O. Box 670394, Cincinnati, OH 45260.