David "Dave" Lee Humphrey

David “Dave” Lee Humphrey of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, surrounded by family and his beloved cat Lillie, one day shy of his 91st birthday. Known for his quick wit, sharp mind, and endless curiosity, Dave lived a life that touched everyone lucky enough to know him.

Dave served in the United States Air Force for four years during the Korean War, stationed in Japan, where he helped outfit spy planes with advanced camera technology — an early sign of the lifelong fascination with cutting-edge tech that would define him. Before settling down, he flew airplanes and raced motorcycles, chasing speed and adventure with the same enthusiasm he brought to everything he did.

In September 1967, Dave married Myrna, the love of his life. Everything he did from that day forward was for her benefit, and their nearly six decades together were the foundation of everything he built. He went on to own Dave’s Cycle Shop on the north side of Indianapolis, a neighborhood staple for years, before joining Allison Transmission, where he worked for 20 years until his retirement in 2000. Following in his father’s footsteps, he was also deeply involved in the Indianapolis 500 for many years.

Retirement didn’t slow Dave down — it opened a new chapter. He and Myrna spent 20 years traveling North America in their Class A RV, making friends from coast to coast across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Never one to act his age, Dave got himself a Segway in the 2000s and rode it around the country while they traveled, unwilling to let being an “old man” stop him.

Dave was always ahead of his time. He was the first to bring home a microwave, a VCR, a home PC, and satellite TV, and he was still texting better than most millennials well into his 90s. He loved AI — maybe a little too much, by his own family’s account — and often said his greatest sadness about dying was that he’d miss out on all the newest technology. Even near the end, he studied the progress of his grandchildren Kristen and Nathan’s home renovation through cameras set up just for him, overseeing the work remotely from his iPad. And true to form, he got to test drive full self-driving in a Cybertruck before he passed — and loved every minute of it.

Dave could fix anything, and if something wasn’t broken, he’d still find a clever way to improve it. He owned every tool known to man and spent countless happy hours tinkering in his shop. He loved soba noodles, hated celery, and was famous among his grandkids for “testing” their Christmas toys before letting them open the boxes.

Dave and Myrna essentially raised his granddaughter, who spent more nights in their home and RV than her own. In many ways, he was everybody’s grandpa — anyone who spent time around him ended up calling him that, whether family or not. Even the servers at his retirement community’s dining room called him Grandpa. His patience may have run short at times, but his love never did. He was a mentor and role model to his entire family, and in his final days he proudly completed an Honor Flight, an experience he spoke of with joy until the end.

Dave is survived by his wife and best friend, Myrna Humphrey; sister Patty; daughter Susie; grandchildren Jason (Kimberly), Kristen (Nathan), and Jonathan (Terrin); and great-grandchildren Nevaeh, Cohen, Seth, and Milo.

Dave always lit up every room he entered and never stopped making people laugh. He leaves behind a legacy that will never be overshadowed. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.