David Steybe

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, David Elliott Steybe entered into eternal life at the age of 92 with his family at his side.

David was born July 26, 1932 in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and raised in Wauwatosa Wisconsin. He worked summers so that he could attend Univ Wisc. Madison, where he earned a bachelors degree with honors in applied mathematics. David then earned a full scholarship to Harvard University, where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors with a master’s degree in engineering.

Armed with this impressive credential, he accepted a job with Hughes Aircraft and moved to Southern California in 1955. After 7 years with Hughes Aircraft, he worked for Northrop Corp, where he worked 28 years until he retired in 1990 at age 58. David is proud that Northrop paid him longer not to work for them than they paid him to work for them.

David’s engineering specialty was airplane navigation systems. He is attributed to several patents related to the AWACS airplane, the MX missile, the B1 bomber, the Kalman filter, Omega satellite navigation system, and many other navigation and communications developments.

Soon after his arrival in Los Angeles, he met the love of his life Marjorie Reeves, a medical technician from Salem Ohio. After a six week engagement, they were married in 1956. They purchased a home in San Pedro (now Rancho Palos Verdes), where he lived until his death. There they raised their sons Jeffrey and Wesley. Marge passed in 1991.

David was active in the San Pedro First United Methodist church, the Pilots couples group, Community Concerts Association, and assisting in the children’s activities such as Indian Guides, Gray-Y, and the Boy Scouts, where he was the troop advancement chairman for 20 years. He almost always put family before work. He led his family on many camping trips cross the U.S, with Sequoia being his favorite. He loved to travel and had been to 37 countries and all 50 states.

David was an accomplished pianist, and he loved to play classical and ragtime music on his baby grand piano. He played Bridge every lunch time at work, and then continued in Bridge groups until his final days. He loved to keep lists of facts, especially sports and geography related. He would memorize them, so that he could recite at any time baseballs’ World Series winners since 1950 or the top 10 most populous states.

David was known for his good-natured humor. When people learned that the rhinoceros was his favorite animal (why - who knows), his home became adorned with over 175 rhino artifacts as gifts from family and friends. He was thrifty to a fault, while being generous to others. He and wife Marge opened their home to numerous friends and relatives in need of a temporary place to stay, in exchange for good conversation.

David is preceded in death by his parents Irving Steybe and Viola (nee) Herman, wife Marjorie (nee) Reeves, brother Richard Steybe, and companions Mercedes Manuel, and Norma Baird.

David is survived by sons Jeffrey Steybe and grandkids Ann and Eric and great grandson Hunter (Chicago area Illinois), and son Wesley Steybe and grandkids Jaquelyn and Ryan (San Pedro, Calif), nephews Daniel and Todd Steybe and Janelle Dougherty (Wauwatosa Wi) and nieces and nephews from the Reeves side of the family.

David lived a marvelous life and left his imprint on the hearts of many. He was laid to rest next to his wife Marjorie in Green Hills cemetery, Rancho Palos Verdes. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday October 26 at 4:00 pm PDT at the First United Methodist Church, 580 W 6th Street, San Pedro.