David Lee Huffman

David Lee Huffman, Died Saturday, March 21, 2026. He was nearly 90 years old. David was born in Detroit, Michigan to John Samuel and Dorothea Reuschle Huffman. He graduated from Redford High School. After graduating from Western Michigan University, he married Janet MacKenzie in 1958 in Detroit. They divorced in 1979 and eventually became close friends again. David’s professional career began as a schoolteacher in Portage, Michigan, where he taught fifth graders for several years at Ramona Lane Elementary. Feeling he could not support a family the way he wanted on a teacher’s salary, he became an agent for State Farm Insurance in Kalamazoo. Upon promotion to manager, he moved his family to Indianapolis in 1966. Not caring for management, he restarted an agency again, retiring in 1999 after 38 years with State Farm. An introvert by nature, David built confidence through professional development courses from Dale Carnegie. It worked so well that he became an instructor of the course, even teaching parts of it to his children. His sense of humor always made people feel at ease. When others describe David, terms frequently used are kind, considerate, charming, cheerful, helpful, dignified, diplomatic, creative and nice. No one has been found who can recall hearing him swear. David was most proud of his two children, Elizabeth Amelia Hague and Dwight MacKenzie Huffman. He was always there for them, no matter the difficult circumstances, always interested, available and positive. This carried through to his grandchildren, as well. David began a long-term relationship with Douglas Dean Carpenter in 1982, eventually marrying in 2011. They were devoted to each other, and Douglas gave exceptional care to David in his final years. David was good at woodworking and landscaping and enjoyed drawing house plans. His first home in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was and early project in which, mostly by himself, he added a garage and family room at the ripe old age of 23. He brought passion and skills to the many homes he and other family members lived in over the years. He left many a grateful neighbor. David took great pleasure in volunteering at the Indy Library Bookstore organizing and shelving the business books for sale. He made many friends in his 14 years of service there. David and his husband, Doug, travelled around the country over their 43 years together. They took train trips, a couple of bus tours, and some caravanning. David is survived by his husband, Douglas Carpenter; children, Elizabeth Hague (partner, John A. Godfrey) and Dwight Huffman (Julie Rash Huffman); grandsons, John S. Hague, Mitch Huffman (Brandi Kirkbride), and Cole Huffman; granddaughter, Stella Huffman; and ex-wife, Janet Penwell. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Allen Huffman. A Celebration of David’s Life will be held on what would have been his 90th birthday, Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Shirley Brothers Fishers-Castleton Chapel, 9900 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN 46038.

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David Lee Huffman

May 27, 1936 - March 21, 2026