If you’ve ever looked up S. E. Hinton, the author behind The Outsiders, you’ve probably come across the name David Inhofe. He wasn’t a public figure in his own right, but his name appears often because of who he was married to and the family he belonged to. Public information about him is limited, but what’s available tells a clear and grounded story.
This article covers what is known about David Inhofe — his background, education, marriage to S. E. Hinton, their family, his reported connection to Senator Jim Inhofe, his personal interests, and his death in April 2025.
Who Was David Inhofe?
David Earle Inhofe was born on February 10, 1948, in Des Moines, Iowa. When he was two years old, his family relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he would spend much of his life. According to the obituary published by Ninde Funeral & Cremations, he remained connected to Tulsa throughout the years that followed.
He was not a celebrity in the traditional sense. His name surfaces in search results mainly because he was the husband of S. E. Hinton, one of the most recognized names in young-adult American literature. On his own, he lived a private life outside the public spotlight.
David Inhofe passed away on April 5, 2025, according to funeral home records. His obituary serves as the most reliable source for the basic facts of his life.
Education and Professional Background
David graduated from Edison High School in Tulsa. He then attended the University of Tulsa, where he earned a master’s degree in mathematics. He also earned a second master’s degree, this one in statistics, from Stanford University.
That’s a strong academic background, and it points to someone who was drawn to analytical and quantitative fields. Secondary biographical accounts about S. E. Hinton describe him as a software engineer, though his obituary focuses more on his education than on a detailed career history. That professional description comes from secondary sources, so it should be understood as broadly accurate rather than fully documented.
His combination of mathematics training from Tulsa and statistics from Stanford suggests he worked in a field where those skills were directly useful, which is consistent with the software engineer description found in Hinton’s biographies.
His Marriage to S. E. Hinton
S. E. Hinton — whose full name is Susan Eloise Hinton — published The Outsiders in 1967 when she was still a teenager. The book went on to become one of the most widely read young-adult novels in American literature and later became a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
David and Susan met during their college years, reportedly at the University of Tulsa. They married in 1970. His obituary identifies his wife as Susan Inhofe, which is consistent with S. E. Hinton’s given name.
Biographical accounts of Hinton describe David as a quiet but meaningful source of support throughout her writing life. One anecdote that appears frequently in accounts of her career involves a period when she was struggling creatively. David reportedly encouraged her to write a set number of pages each day to help her push through that block. Hinton has credited this encouragement with helping her complete That Was Then, This Is Now, her second novel.
It’s worth being clear about what that story does and doesn’t mean. David did not write or edit her books. He offered the kind of steady encouragement that helped her stay on track during a difficult creative period. That’s the role he played, and it’s the role she has described publicly.
Their partnership lasted more than five decades. By all accounts, it was a stable and close marriage, with both of them based in Tulsa for much of their lives together.
Their Son and Immediate Family
David and S. E. Hinton had one son together, Nicholas David Inhofe, who goes by Nick Inhofe. His obituary names Nick directly, and biographical accounts of S. E. Hinton also reference their son by the same name.
David’s parents were Orville and Evelyn Inhofe. He had a sister named Jan Sweeney, along with other relatives mentioned in his obituary. Beyond these names, public sources don’t provide a detailed picture of his extended family.
Tributes published alongside his obituary describe him as someone deeply devoted to his wife and son, close to longtime friends, and connected to a wider circle of family. These personal accounts paint a picture of someone who valued relationships and stayed grounded in his community.
His Reported Connection to Senator Jim Inhofe
One of the more commonly searched questions about David Inhofe involves his connection to Jim Inhofe, the former U.S. Senator from Oklahoma who served in the Senate from 1994 to 2023.
Multiple secondary sources, including Wikipedia’s entry on S. E. Hinton, describe David as a cousin of Jim Inhofe. If accurate, that would make Jim Inhofe a cousin-in-law of S. E. Hinton. It’s a connection that often surprises readers, since it links a well-known literary figure to a prominent political one through marriage.
That said, the exact genealogical line between David and Jim Inhofe is not firmly established in the strongest available sources. The obituary from Ninde Funeral & Cremations doesn’t lay out a detailed Inhofe family tree. The cousin claim appears in secondary accounts and is widely repeated, but should be taken as reported rather than independently verified through formal genealogical documentation.
What is clear is that David shared the Inhofe surname and was associated with Tulsa, the same city closely connected to the Inhofe family’s political and personal history.
Personal Interests and Character
David Inhofe’s obituary offers a few telling glimpses into his personal life. He was described as a triathlete, which suggests real dedication to physical fitness. His interests included swimming, poker, and bowling — a mix that points to someone who enjoyed both competition and social activity.
The obituary also describes him as having a good sense of humor and as someone who was genuinely devoted to the people around him. These details come from his formal obituary rather than from public profiles or celebrity coverage, so they reflect how his family and close community remembered him.
He wasn’t someone who sought attention. His life was private and rooted in Tulsa, shaped by family, friendships, and personal interests rather than public recognition.
Why Readers Search His Name
Most people encounter David Inhofe’s name while researching S. E. Hinton. Because Hinton remains a widely studied author — The Outsiders is taught in schools across the United States — her personal life sometimes draws curiosity. Her husband’s name appears in biographies, Wikipedia entries, and various academic or fan-oriented profiles of her work.
Some readers also find his name through genealogy websites. It’s worth noting that not every online profile named “David Inhofe” necessarily refers to the same person. The safest way to confirm identity is to match details like birth year, spouse, son’s name, and Tulsa connection against reliable sources like his official obituary.
For readers interested in learning more about people connected to notable public figures and family histories, resources like Inpagebusiness cover a wide range of biographical and lifestyle topics in an accessible format.
His Death in April 2025
David Earle Inhofe died on April 5, 2025. The Ninde Funeral & Cremations obituary confirmed his passing and provided the most detailed public summary of his life. The Legacy/Tulsa World obituary also published tributes from family members and longtime friends.
He was 77 years old at the time of his death. His obituary remembered him not as an extension of a famous person, but as a man defined by his relationships, his intellectual interests, and his commitment to the people closest to him.
A Quiet Life, Clearly Lived
David Inhofe was not famous in the conventional sense. He didn’t write books, hold office, or pursue a public career. What he did was build a long marriage with one of American literature’s most enduring authors, raise a son, and live a private life grounded in Tulsa, mathematics, athletics, and friendship.
For readers who searched his name expecting a celebrity profile, the reality is quieter than that. But it’s also genuinely interesting — a person connected to a famous author, a prominent senator, and a city with a rich literary and political history, who nonetheless kept his own life mostly out of view. That’s worth knowing, even if it doesn’t fill many headlines.
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