David E. Graff

David E. Graff departed this earthly life, Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Bridgewater Healthcare Center under Hospice Care.  Celebration of Life Service is Thursday, May 25, 2023 at the E. 91^st Street Christian Church, 6049 E. 91^st Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250.  Visitation will begin at 3:00 P.M. in “The Hall” and the Celebration of Life service will begin at 4:00 P.M.  Friends and relatives are welcome to share a memory or a story about David during the COL service.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Martishia L. Montgomery Graff of Westfield, IN; daughters Kimberly Graff (Jerry Jones) of Columbus, IN; Michelle Boyd (Pat Shea) of Peoria, AZ; son Michael Boyd of Anderson, IN; sister Deborah Shepard of Virginia Beach, VA; and niece Gail Shepard of Indianapolis, IN.  Grandchildren (6) Daniel (Camareigh) Shea and Ryan Shea of Phoenix, AZ; Shyanne Shea and Hannah Boyd of Peoria, AZ; Cate Davis-Knoll and Evan Boyd of Westfield, IN.  Great Grandchildren (4) Lillian, Nathan, Gunner and Ryder Shea of Phoenix, AZ.

David was born on October 21, 1936 to David J. and Marjorie Heacox Graff (deceased). David attended Bristol Schools and graduated from Bristol High School, Bristol, CT, in 1955. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1960 from Marietta College, Marietta, OH. His first job after college was in Columbus, IN with Reliance Electric. Other IT positions he held were with Sperry Univac and David H. Werkley & Associates in Indianapolis, IN; Sperry in Cincinnati, OH and retiring from Roche Diagnostics in Indianapolis.

He had a variety of hobbies and interests. He loved classical music with Beethoven being his favorite composer. Although as a child David took professional violin and piano lessons, all who knew him would agree that the best instrument he played was his stereo!  He loved steam locomotives, real and model and loved to read books about them from all over the world. He also enjoyed watching tapes and CDs or old Western movies showing off the marvels of steam. He loved planning and building both his indoor basement and the backyard garden steam railways. He loved sharing his hobby with open houses, scout troop field trips and with neighborhood kids and their parents. He was the second president of the Indiana Large Scale Railroaders and held offices on the board in the National Convention Club.

Volunteering was part of his life.  While living in Columbus, IN he was very active in the Jaycees.  He worked on many projects that the citizens of Columbus enjoyed, including parades and for several years the Haunted House during Halloween.  The Jaycees also had projects to earn money for back-to-school clothes for under-privileged children and for new equipment for the police and fire departments. In Jaycees David served as an officer on the board of both the local and state Jaycees. He was also a Jaycee Senator.

As an active member in the Columbus Arts Guild, he was both a Producer and Actor in plays. He also volunteered to paint the outside of the theatre building one summer.

Volunteering for Jubilee Village and Walk for Water was something David was passionate about. He served as Treasurer on the Board of Directors, worked on the Walk for Water project that provides wells pumping clean drinking water for several villages in Kenya, and was a faithful servant in donating to the Jubilee Village Project.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in David’s memory to:

Jubilee Village Project

9057 Admirals Bay Drive

Indianapolis, IN  46236