David William Melvin

David William Melvin of Indianapolis died peacefully and went to be with the Lord with his family by his side on March 4, 2020 at the age of 80 after battling Alzheimer’s/dementia.

Dave was born January 19, 1940 in Lewes, DE to the late Olin Melvin, Sr. and Louise Gibson Melvin.

He met the love of his life, Geri (née D’Angelo) while in high school and they were married for 60 years. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Dave had a successful career as an insurance executive and later he founded his own executive search firm, D.W. Melvin and Associates.

Simply put Dad was brilliant.  He was well read and incredibly articulate with a sharp wit and a keenly insightful mind.  Dad was extraordinarily accomplished with a variety of passions (hobbies would not do them justice). Over the years he became an expert in many areas, first as a drummer in a band called the “Fabulous Corvettes” and later as a competitive water skier, a master scuba diver with over 1,100 dives, a world traveler as well as a published nature photographer and kayaking enthusiast.  He and Mom took numerous trips which included Hawaii, Italy and most often to their beloved British Isles.

Dad met Mom while in high school and they were married on December 12, 1959 and thus began a 60-year love story.  He was a devoted husband to “that little pup” and told anyone within earshot how lucky he was to have Mom as his wife, he loved her fiercely and together they showed the rest of us what a committed and enduring marriage looks like.

He was also a loving and devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather who was unfailingly supportive and encouraging with a rare gift for listening.  He was enormously proud of his children and his family and he let us know just how loved we were.

Dad died like he lived with courage and conviction. As his disease progressed he was acutely aware of the accelerating loss of his abilities. His dementia robbed him of his ability to read, to write and to verbalize his thoughts as he wished yet Dad never once complained or wasted time on self-pity. He told us that instead of asking, “why me” the better question was “why not me?”

During his last days his strength of character and the grace he exhibited were simply amazing, as my sister Kelly remarked “he gave us a master class in how to die.” Not surprisingly, Dad turned out to be an expert in this area as well.

He is survived by his loving wife Geri Melvin: son Mark (Heather Ross Melvin), daughter Kelly (Sean Bright), grandchildren Kristin Melvin, Lauren (Jon) Dages, Allison Melvin and Andrew Melvin, step grandchildren Connor and Luke Bright.  Great grandchildren include Jaiden, Chloe and a little one on the way that we can’t wait to meet sometime in early August. Also surviving him is his sister, Shelly Melvin as well as his loyal and devoted cat Carson. As Dad declined, Carson was a source of comfort and joy where words weren’t necessary to communicate love.

The family is holding private services.  If you would like to make a memorial contribution in his name we suggest: a library of your choice, the Hancock County Humane Society of Greenfield, IN, or Compassion and Choices.