John Barnhart

Born in Garland, Texas, on July 27, 1967, to Barney J. and Mary L. Barnhart, John also resided in Adelaide and Alice Springs, Australia, where he came to know the famous Albert Namatjira family of Indigenous artists. There, he was pastored by the Rev. Laurie Reece, a Baptist minister renowned for his advocacy and work with the Warlpiri Aboriginal people. At the time, John’s father was working at the joint Australian–United States satellite communications and signals intelligence surveillance base known as Pine Gap.

During his childhood travels to East and Southeast Asia, John was known for engaging in theological discussions with Buddhists he met and sharing the Gospel, which he continued to do throughout his lifetime, both stateside and in other travels.

Also in his youth, he participated in theater,  the YMCA Indian Guides and played soccer. In high school, he participated in speech and debate competitions and won a top award, a first for his high school. At that time, he attended Woodhaven Baptist Church in Garland, initially pastored by Ira Wayne Wood.

In the 1990s, John was a sports reporter and covered the Dallas Cowboys and authored the book, “Keeping Up With the Boys.”

Following a move to Central Texas in the late ‘90s with his wife, Mary D. Barnhart, and daughter, Bethany, he worked at Dell Technologies in Round Rock, where he served in various roles, including sales, senior technical marketing engineer, and marketing manager. In his positions, he also worked in Panama and participated in conferences in Europe.

His favorite hobby was fishing, especially on the Texas coast. He and his wife had dreamed of retiring in Rockport, Texas. Both were members of New Hope Baptist Church in Cedar Park, Texas. John was also known for his humor.

A prolific reader and researcher, John also enjoyed delving into discussions and debates about politics, U.S. and world history, as well as apologetics and eschatology.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

John was preceded in death by his daughter, Bethany Alyssa Barnhart; father, Barney; grandmothers, Helen Van Echaute and Irene Keeler; grandfathers, John H. Barnhart (KIA WWII in Germany) and Claude Van Echaute (WWII Pacific Theatre veteran); uncles, Orville Barnhart and James Van Echaute; aunt, Ann Little; and cousins, Beverly Oliger, Cheryl Dube, David Van Echaute and Mike Little.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, of 34 years; mother, Mary; sister, Melissa Barnhart; son, Shawn Barnhart, and daughter-in-law, Amanda; and grandchildren, Caysen Barnhart, and Mason, Madilynn and Makynlee Smith. He’s also survived by numerous cousins, aunts and uncles.  

Public visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown, Texas. The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 27, at The Gabriels with a graveside service to follow at Our Lady of the Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown, Texas. A reception will follow at New Hope Baptist Church in Cedar Park.