Judge Richard Arthur Revell

Retired Judge Richard Arthur Revell, 95, passed away August 2, 2026. He is survived by his brother Donald H. Revell, Jr., his children Kathleen (Kathy) Revell, Karen Steltenpohl (Frank) and Kenneth Revell (Angie Davis), his grandchildren Nicole Palmer (Shawn), Eric Steltenpohl (Sharon) and Emily O’Reilly (Cavan), and his great-grandchildren Matthew Palmer and Molly and Maisy O’Reilly. He was preceded in death by his wife Peggy of 68 wonderful years, his parents Janet L. and Donald H. Sr., and three siblings Colleen Heuser, Alan Revell and Edwin Revell.

Richard was born in Maugansville, Maryland on May 7, 1931, to Janet L. and Donald H. Revell, Sr. where he was one of five children. He grew up in Hagerstown, Maryland, and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He graduated from Highlands Junior High in 1946 and Male High School in 1949, where he participated in concert and marching band. Richard was among the first in his class to be inducted into the Male High School Hall of Fame. After high school graduation, Richard enrolled in the University of Louisville on a music scholarship and was a member of the Cardinal Marching Band, and then was inducted into the United States Army in 1952 during the Korean War. He attended Officer’s Candidate School in Fort Benning, GA, where he was injured and honorably discharged. He returned to U of L and enrolled in the Louis D Brandis School of Law.

While in Law School, Richard worked as a night librarian to help pay for his tuition, served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, editor of the Louisville Law Review, Law School editor of the U of L Cardinal and of the Thoroughbred, and was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. He met his wife Peggy while at U of L, and they married in 1955.

As a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American Bar Associations, Richard began practicing law in 1957, and was appointed as a Jefferson County Juvenile Court Judge by County Judge Marlo Cook in 1963, and served in that capacity until 1970. He was then appointed as a Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge by Governor Louie Nunn in 1971, where he was re-elected through numerous elections. In 1985, Judge Revell was nominated to the Federal Bench by President Gerald R. Ford, but that nomination was politically blocked by Senator Wendell Ford. During his time on the bench, Richard was named the Louisville Bar Association Judge of the Year, was awarded the Henry V. Pennington Award, was named a U of L Distinguished Alumni, was elected to The Law Club, and was a member of The American Judicature Society. For 20 years, Richard taught Paralegal Studies at the University of Louisville, as well as Trial Practice in Law School. During this time, he co-authored a handbook for divorce lawyers called Kentucky Divorce, and a divorce update for the Louisville Bar Association. Richard was given a Lifetime Honorary Membership with the Kentucky Bar Association, was named The Brandies Society Outstanding Legal Scholar, and has the Judge Richard A. Revell Family Law Award, given by the Louisville Bar Association, named for him. At the request of the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court, Robert Stephens, Richard served as Chief Judge of the first Family Court in Kentucky in 1991. He retired from the bench in 1995, was awarded the Chief Justice Special Services Award, and continued to work in the law field as a mediator until 2016 when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Richard was active within church serving as Chairman of the Board of Deacons at Harvey Brown Presbyterian Church, and at Anchorage Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder, a Sunday School teacher, head usher, the church bell ringer and in various other capacities. Within the community, Richard played baritone in both the Middletown and University of Louisville Community Bands, was active in Friend for Life Cancer Survivors Group, where he served on the Board, as well as a Captain in the March of Dimes, and was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by Community Chest. He received the Downtown Optimist Award, was named a Kentucky Colonel and Honorary Captain of the Belle of Louisville, and was designated a Distinguished Citizen of Louisville by Mayor Harvey Sloane. He also served on the Commonwealth’s Attorney Advisory Board after being appointed by David Armstrong, and was a liaison to Bellewood Children’s Home for the City of Anchorage.

In his spare time, Richard loved working in his yard, raising orchids, playing and listening to music, and feeding his birds, squirrels and raccoons. Spending time with his family was his greatest joy.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Anchorage Presbyterian Church, Friend for Life Cancer Support Network, or any animal preservation society.

Visitation to be held Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Arch L. Heady & Son at Westport, 7410 Westport Rd, Louisville, Ky 40222

Funeral Service to be held Thursday, August 6th, 2026 at 10:00am at Anchorage Presbyterian Church, 11403 Park Rd, Anchorage, Ky 40223. Burial to follow at Cave Hill Cemetery.