David Jack Rader

David Jack Rader, 85, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away Friday, November 17, 2023, at Otterbein Senior Life, Franklin, Indiana.

David was born on Sunday, September 11, 1938, to the late George Leroy and Gladys Lucille (Long) Rader in Hicksville, Ohio.

David was in the United States Navy and was a pattern maker for parts that they needed to repair the ship while out to sea. He attended Columbia University Art School in New York for a year before coming to Indiana and earning his master’s degree at Indiana University, Bloomington. He was an educator and taught art beginning at Indianapolis Public School #28, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, then on to North Central High School, Arsenal Technical High School, Wood High School, and a few others. His students loved him, he was a fun-loving man. David sculpted many statues over the years. They are all over the United States. One here that he did is a life size statue of Christ in bronze at St. Lukes Church which was placed there in 1969. After retirement and living in Indianapolis for 30 years he and his wife Patricia moved to their weekend house in Cordry-Sweetwater full-time. He then got into real estate, selling many properties in the lakes to very satisfied buyers.

David is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Jean (Wallace) Rader in 2015; parents, George, and Gladys Rader; daughter, Michelle Ann (Rader) Gallagher; sister, Bonnie Sue (Rader) Weinhardt; brother-in-law, Walter Weinhardt; granddaughter, Emily Dove, and niece, Cara Payne.

He is survived by his sons, Jeffrey Lee Rader, David Scott Rader; son-in-law, Kevin Gallagher;  granddaughter, Sarah Patrice Browne and her husband Eric Browne; niece, Marcie (Weinhardt) Anderson; nephews, Charles Weinhardt, Bob Weinhardt; and great granddaughter, Avery Erin Browne

There are no services planned at this time.