David Ray Candill

David Ray Caudill, born on November 20, 1957, in Shelbyville, IN, made his grand exit from this world on April 13, 1957, at the Valley Hospice Care Center North—though he always seemed to be fashionably ahead of time. A mama's boy through and through, David never quite lost that special sparkle born from growing up with his adoring mother Oma Jean (Coomer) Caudill, who must have been his original life coach, personal chef, and humor therapist all rolled into one.

David’s life story reads like a road trip with extra scenic detours (and some serious overthinking pit stops). After graduating from Columbus North High School in Columbus, Indiana, he decided to soar the friendly skies—or at least be intimately involved with the airplane dashboards—for 13.5 years in the Air Force, mastering radar and navigation. Yes, he was the guy making sure those airplanes didn’t get lost, probably because he was already an expert at navigating the complexities of life (and his own mind) back home.

When he wasn’t busy keeping planes on track, David rolled through life on his beloved Harley, the perfect bike for a man who loved his motorcycles almost as much as a good cold beer—although there’s a rumor it was the bikes that kept him chasing after his beers, not the other way around. His hands, equally adept at working on computers and taming the roar of his motorcycle, were kept busy balancing those two passions late into the night.

David’s career had a nice truckstop flavor, too, as he drove a Semi Truck for CTI for four years. Imagine him on the road, hauling goods while mentally juggling his next family barbecue or plotting out ways to torment his kids just enough to keep them humble.

Now, speaking of family—David was a loving presence, known for the way he cared deeply about his children and grandchildren, which is even more remarkable since he achieved the near-miraculous feat of simultaneously loving and overthinking everything to the 9th degree. He leaves behind a legacy of love through his three children: Crystal Jade Chandler of Columbus, IN; Brandon Caudill of Indiana; and Brittany Caudill of California, along with six grandchildren who probably already recognize Grandpa David as the man who could fix a computer, tell a bad joke, and ride a motorcycle—all at the same time.

Surviving him are also two sisters, Kathy Cochran of Columbus, IN, and Debbie Gadiss of Shelbyville, IN. Sadly, he is reunited beyond this realm with his father, Elmer Ray Caudill, step son Bryant Campbell, and sister, Linda Caudill, whose memories surely accompanied him until the very end.

David’s heart was as big as his sense of humor, a kind soul who gave his endless affection without need for fanfare, and yet, underneath it all was a man who sometimes pondered life’s mysteries so hard he could give philosophers a run for their money—then smiled the next minute and revved up his Harley.

Unfortunately, this larger-than-life man was brought down by cerebrovascular disease and strokes, but let’s be honest, even illness couldn’t stop him from having the last laugh.

So here’s to David Ray Caudill: a hard-working, deeply caring, motley hero with a flavor of humor, a good heart, and a lifelong devotion to his beloved mama. If you happen to see a Harley riding down from the heavens, it just might be him—probably bursting with thoughts about his kids, a cold beer waiting on a cloud, and a GPS set to lead him home. Schuetz Funeral Home is assisting the family. A Crowd Funding page has been set up below. 

To leave a condolence visit www.schuetzfuneralhome.com