BARNHART, Ronald J.

bluemountaineagle.com 21 August 2012 YUMA, Ariz. – Ronald J. Barnhart, 79, formerly of Prairie City, died July 23 in Yuma, Ariz. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at Prairie City Cemetery, with a lunch following at the Strawberry Grange Hall. Mr. Barnhart was born July 23, 1932, in Colorado Springs, Colo., to Harry and Helen Barnhardt. He graduated from Prairie City High School in 1956, and served in the U.S. Navy. On May 26, 1956, he married his wife Wanda in Prairie City. They moved to Boise, where they raised their family and where he worked for IML Freight Lines until he retired in 1983. They returned to Prairie City where he worked for Prairie Wood Products, and then they moved to Portland where they were caretakers for a family. They moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where they ran a janitorial and yard service business for 12 years before moving to Yuma in 2004. He was a longtime member of the Elks Lodge and an avid Boise State football fan. Survivors include his daughters, Ronda (Steve) McGavern of Escondido, Calif., and Beckie (John) Chehey of Boise; son, Bob (Pam) Barnhart of Boise; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Wanda; sister Dorothy Roske; and brother Ted Barnhart. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.