David Lee Royalty, 86, of Elizabeth, Indiana, died Friday, January 16, 2026, at his home in Elizabeth, Indiana.  He was born September 26, 1939, in Louisville, Kentucky, to the late Harry F. and Iola Epperson Royalty.  He was a member of the former New Middletown United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge #940-Louisville, DAV, and the New Middletown Lion’s Club, and was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. David was a veteran of the U.S. Army and retired as an equipment specialist from the Department of Defense.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Johnnie Mae Gordon Royalty; and his brother, Joe Royalty.

 

Survivors include his sons, John Royalty (Matt) of Urbana, Illinois and Mike Royalty (Cheryl) of Elizabeth; his granddaughter, Shelby Moser (Jonathan); his step granddaughters, Audrey Bebensee (Mike) and Gina Duggan (Mick); his great grandbabies, Emma, Delilah, Nolan, Arthur and James; his brother, Dennis Royalty (Debbie) of Indianapolis, Indiana; and his sister, Delores Stanton (Fred) of Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

 

Burial will take place at a later date in the Fogel-Farish Cemetery at White Cross Church in New Middletown, Indiana.

 

The family asks that memorial donations be made to the WHAS Crusade for Children, 520 West Chestnut Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202 or at https://www.whascrusade.org/.

 

Beanblossom-Cesar Funeral Home in Corydon is in charge of arrangements.