David Scudder of the Greencroft Communities in Goshen, Indiana, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. He was born into a Methodist minister’s family of May 1, 1939, in Waverly, New York.  He attended public schools in New York State and Pennsylvania graduating in 1955 from Madison Central Schools in Madison, New York.  He graduated from Mansfield State College with a B.S. in music education in 1960 and completed one year of graduate study at the University of Syracuse in 1960/61.  In 1970, he received an M.A. in music history from the University of Connecticut at Storrs.

Beginning in 1961, David served as the pastor of Methodist Church in Millerton, Pennsylvania for two years.  He was a school music teacher in Corning, New York for one year in 1963.  From 1964 until 1981, he was an elementary instrumental music teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He taught at a Christian school in Port Republic, New Jersey from 1981 to 1985 and worked many years as a free-lance musician.

In June of 1973, he married Barbara Kemp in Simsbury, Connecticut.  For 25 years of their married life, until their retirement in 2009, they resided in a family home in the Catskills near Roxbury, New York.  The home and the history and traditions of the Scudder family were very important themes in David’s life; he actively participated in the Scudder Family Association for a number of years.

David had a love for railroads throughout his life.  He was active as a volunteer on the Delaware and Ulster Railroad in Arkville, New York and was the stationmaster of the Roxbury Railroad Depot Museum for four years.  He was also a volunteer at the New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana.  He loved traveling by train as well and estimated that he had ridden 65,000 miles on passenger railroads throughout the United States and Canada.  He traveled in all but four states and seven Canadian provinces.

Music was very important in David’s life.  He was a concert violinist and loved both classical and religious music.  He music was a reflection of his gratitude to God for showing him his need of Christ as Lord and Savior.  As a devout Christian, he sought to serve the Lord throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara Kemp Scudder on July 24, 2015.  He will be interred at the Roxbury Cemetery in New York.  A memorial service will be scheduled in May. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Greencroft Goshen Foundation-Resident Dreams Program, PO Box 819, Goshen, Indiana 46527-0819.

Rieth Rohrer Ehret Funeral Home, Goshen, Indiana is handling arrangements and online condolences may be sent at www.rrefh.com.