Raymond Ellis George was born on September 13, 1933 in Cedar Falls, Black Hawk County, Iowa to Ellis and Carole George. He attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Rapids in 1954. George had a lengthy career in higher education, teaching many years as a highly regarded member of the faculty in the School of Art at Illinois State University. Professor George was very supportive of  Normal Editions Workshop through his participation as both an artist or a collaborative printer in many projects.

Raymond E. George died on May 5, 2005 in Normal, McClean County, Illinois.