Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Jarvis received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Tennessee in 1958, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity; he was awarded the Significant Sig Award in 1997 for "achievement in a brother’s professional career and civic endeavors".

He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1960.

He was a judge on the Law and Equity Court, Blount County, Tennessee from 1972 to 1977.

[1] Jarvis was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on September 6, 1984, to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, to a new seat created by 98 Stat.

Jarvis served in that capacity until his death on June 6, 2007, in Knoxville.