David F. Metzger

David F. Metzger, born in Rossville, Indiana, in Clinton County, to Jesse and Merle Metzger, passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at Milner Community Healthcare. He was the husband of Shirley (Harland) Metzger, who preceded him in death.

Retiring from the IU School of Social Work in June 1998, after twenty-seven years of teaching, David remained an active voice in human service and social public policy. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ball State University and did post-graduate study at the University of Chicago School of Social Welfare Administration. For nineteen years, he directed the IU Council of International Programs providing educational and cultural exchange visits for human service professionals from throughout the world. Prior to joining the faculties of IU, he was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives from Muncie, serving in the 1965 General Assembly.

David developed in early life a commitment to serving the needy and oppressed. Over the years, this commitment led to service and leadership on many local, state, and national organizations, including the Indiana Corrections Association, advisor on Corrections to the Indiana Lawyers Commission, the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force, and two Governors commissions on Corrections and Juvenile Courts.

Governors Robert Orr and Evan Bayh honored Mr. Metzger as a Sagamore of the Wabash. After retirement, the Indiana Coalition for Human Services selected him for the Oscar C. McCulloch Social Concerns Award. In 1999, Mayor Stephan Goldsmith presented him with the Mayor’s Volunteer Partnership Award. He was recognized by the IU School of Social Work and Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis with the Spirit of Philanthropy award.

An elder and member of Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, David committed the remaining years of his life after retirement to improving the lives of others, especially the homeless, impoverished and marginal. He and Shirley were fixtures in social justice outreach to neighbors in the Mapleton Fall Creek neighborhood and the Open Door (soup kitchen) of the church.

David is survived by his sister, Eva (Melvin) Mohler; brother, Robert (Maxine) Metzger; close and special friend, Stephanie (Russell) Bowman; and several nieces and nephews.

Along with his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Daniel (Dorothy) Metzger

Visitation will be held Monday, September 16, 2024, from 12:30pm until the time of the service at 3pm at Day & Genda Funeral Home ~ Bodine Chapel in Rossville. Russell Bowman will officiate. Burial will follow at Bunnell Cemetery in Frankfort. 

David and Shirley were married forty-eight years. His students and friends will recall his life-long admonition that goodness cannot be imposed from the top down; it must grow internally from the bottom up.