David Barnhart

David (Dave) Stanford Barnhart was born on Tuesday, November 23, 1943 in San Francisco, CA to Betty and Barney Barnhart.

Dave attended Washington High School in San Francisco. After graduation, he entered the Navy. After the Navy, he joined Service Engineering and worked on the piers of San Francisco, spending many hours maintaining ships returning from Vietnam and other places in the world. He later worked on many active submarines at other locations in the Bay area.

Dave eventually relocated to Cobb, California where he owned Yogi Bear’s Jellystone RV Park and Camp Resort. It was a quiet, family-centered place where he would meet his wife of 21 years, Leah Learned. Many families enjoyed visiting the campground over the years he was there.

Dave a gentle giant, a kind and loving man, with a fierce love for and sense of loyalty to his family and friends. He would go out of his way to help anyone when he saw a need. He could fix anything and constantly looked for the next project. He never met a stranger; his dry wit and quick humor endeared him to everyone he met. And he was always up for a new adventure.

Dave passed in peace on Saturday, December 5, 2020. He died just as he lived: he wrote his own rules, he fought authority and he paved his own way. And if someone said he couldn’t do something he would make sure he that did it. He never slowed down.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Barney, all of his siblings, his daughter Michele, and granddaughter Melody. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Leah; his children, Brian (Nikki), Bob (Jill), David B., Molly (Dennis), Casey (Joe), Jason (Lucie), and Bryan. He also is survived by many loving grandchildren and a myriad of friends.

Dave will be fondly remembered by family and friends as a loving father, dedicated son and brother, a distinguished entrepreneur, a man with keen dry wit, an amazing sense of humor and an avid zest for life. He will be missed by all.