Read Raymond Arden Barnhart, Sr.'s Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Raymond Arden Barnhart, Sr.

Dallas, TX, USA

May 2, 1936 - January 31, 2021

May 2, 1936 - Jan 31, 2021

In lieu of flowers

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Terrell Family Community Church.

Learn more & give
Help keep everyone in the know by sharing this memorial website.

Share

Photo

Remembering Raymond Arden Barnhart, Sr.
Raymond Arden Barnhart, Sr., 84, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, January 31, 2021. He was born May 2, 1936 in Shoreham, New York to Albert Weeger Barnhart and Maxine Elliot (Maxson) Barnhart. They both preceded him in death. He held a deep belief in the Lord, Jesus Christ as his personal savior. But more importantly, he was our Dad and we will all miss him. He is survived by his children, Frankie Simone Barnhart Smith, Lucy Lee Barnhart, Raymond Arden Barnhart Jr., Amy Boardman Barnhart, David Albert Barnhart, Heather Anne Barnhart and their spouses; many grandchildren; and an extended family of friends.

Ray’s ancestor, Johannes Barnhart came to the United States in 1709 to escape persecution. His son, George settled in Canada and leased 1700 acres on Barnhart Island where a thriving community lived for 100 years.

Ray’s memorial service will be on Saturday, February 20th at 10:00 am Central Standard Time at Terrell Family Community Church, 203 Griffith Ave, Terrell, Texas. Reverend Ron Ivey and Pastor Timothy Boles officiating. Danny Smith will broadcast the service live on Facebook. His link is: https://www.facebook.com/prof…. All of Ray's friends and family are welcome.

Throughout his life Ray put smiles on many faces with his boisterous, infectious laugh and his wacky sense of humor. He was also known for his own unique perspective on life, from his unshakeable faith in God and Revelations, his tremendous bond with his bird, Verde, and his dogs, Rosco and Molly, his love of bicycle riding, his belief in miracles, his sense of adventure, his commitment to non-violence and his bonding with friends. Throughout his life, he was a fun, intelligent, steadfast, determined man who persevered in deeply-held beliefs. Nothing could sway his perspective.

He married his first wife, Dorothy Lee Boardman of Rye, New York on 1/31/57. They met at Rollins College where Ray did some of his undergraduate work. Ray completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. Ray entered the Army and Ray and Dorothy moved to Detroit, Michigan. The couple had four children, Frankie Simone Barnhart-Smith of Bucksport, Maine, Lucy Lee Barnhart of Bar Harbor, Maine, Raymond Arden Barnhart, Junior of Duncan, South Carolina and Amy Boardman Barnhart of San Diego, California. The family loved to sail together and began their sailing adventures in Long Island on Nastunia. The family moved to Fajardo, Puerto Rico in 1968 for Raymond to pursue a career managing his family’s factory that made industrial screens for windows. The sailing adventures continued on a Luders 33 boat, Azul. Ray demonstrated his exasperation followed by his dogged determination and perseverance during one sailboat race where his young crew of children couldn’t meet his expectations and completely flubbed the start of the race by sailing into the wind, leaving Azul in “irons” and her overwhelmed crew woefully behind. In frustration, he proceeded to throw his Rolex, his Ray Bans, his wallet, the winch handle and the outboard motor of the sailboat overboard. After the outburst he settled down and decided to finish the race regardless of no chance to win. He finished hours behind the rest of the fleet and was awarded “The Perseverance Award.” Being able to recover and persevere despite disappointment is a trait he has inspired in many of us. Ray and Dorothy divorced in 1973 and Dorothy and her children settled in Bar Harbor, Maine. Dorothy passed on June 4, 1997.

Ray used his Mechanical Engineering talent as an inventor and was always cooking up innovative solutions to problems. One of his many innovations was a very unique pump that reduced friction and was very efficient.

In 1973, Ray moved to Rolling Dam, New Brunswick in Canada to pursue a life of independence and living off the grid. He bought a haunted farmhouse that had been abandoned for 40 years with no electricity or running water. The only lighting was Coleman lanterns, the home was heated with wood, they cooked over an old-fashioned wood stove, drew water from an outdoor pump well, grew their own vegetables and used an outhouse. Ray industriously proceeded to remodel the home, adding an A-frame to the upper floor, indoor plumbing, wood burning furnace and he fixed the foundation. While in Canada, Ray married Noel and adopted her son, David Albert Barnhart. Lucy lived with Ray, Noel and David for a time in Canada. One of David’s fondest memories of that time in Canada was driving the M37 Dodge Power Wagon, an army truck called “Big Mother.” The family had many adventures and great times in that truck. At one point, the police didn’t know what to make of that huge vehicle and David remembers being pulled over to explain it. Subsequently, Noel and Ray moved to Florida where they had their daughter, Heather Anne Barnhart of Point, Texas. Noel became sick with cancer and died on April 1, 2001.

Over the years, life’s challenges and lessons developed and increased Ray’s faith, which became a refuge and a key part of his life purpose. He moved to Fort Worth, Texas and then Arlington, Texas in 1986 eventually settling in Dallas where he became intimately involved with church there. He met his third wife, Faye, a lovely woman with a gentle heart and a loving soul. She brought Ray very much peace and connection to the church and her family and she encouraged him to reconnect with all of his children. Faye passed on 2/22/2016. After that, Ray lived with her son,Terry Elliot with his beloved pets and invested his time in Church and volunteering for the prison ministry. He was committed to saving as many souls as he could.

Ray will be remembered for his love of God, his love of his pets, his boisterous laugh, his humor, his unshakeable faith, his authenticity and his perseverance. May he rest in peace.

Order a beautiful PDF you can print and save or share.

Get the PDF

Get notified when new photos, stories and other important updates are shared.

In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to Terrell Family Community Church.

Learn more & give