Born February 27, 1935 in Lancaster, PA to Jay and Lovice Barnhart of Mount Joy, PA. He had one brother, Barry R. Barnhart and sister-in-law, Joanne Hart Barnhart. Both are deceased.

He was married to Ruth (Kauffman) Barnhart of Landisville, PA on January 26, 1957.

He is also survived by his two daughters: Julia Anne Bennett, wife of Ed Bennett of Geneva, FL and Jayne Louise Palmer, wife of Michael Palmer of Greenville, TX. Jay and Ruth also have two grandchildren and six great grandchildren in Greenville, TX: Jennifer Brown and her husband Jason and their three children, Annabelle, Link and Tristan; and Benjamin Palmer and his wife Joceylin and their three children, Andrew, Aaron and Alora. They also have bonus grandchildren and great grandchildren in Florida: Sarah Gilmer and her husband Dan and their two children Chloe and Claire: Matthew Bennett; and Maxwell Bennett and his wife Christa and their two children Micah and Koah.

He graduated from Mt. Joy High School in 1953; Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, in 1957 with a BS in Biology; and Jefferson Medical College with a MD degree, Philadelphia, in 1961. He served a one year Rotating Internship at Lancaster General Hospital from July 1961 to July 1962, receiving the “Intern of the Year

Award”. He then began a General Family Practice in the town of North East, Maryland in August 1962 until July 1979.

He then began a Medical Residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Jefferson Medical University Hospital, Philadelphia. After four years of training he became Board Certified in both of those specialties, and began a one year residency for Forensic Pathology at the Miami Dade Medical Examiner/University of Miami and became Board Certified in that. After twelve years of working as an associate Medical Examiner and three years as Deputy Chief Medical Examiner in Miami/Dade County, FL, he retired and moved to Rockledge, FL where he volunteered his medical expertise at the Fort Pierce Medical Examiner’s Department for eight years; as well as giving tours on FL Botany and wildlife, and cast net making and beach seining at local County Parks, The Enchanted Forest, Sebastian State Park and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, and Cape Canaveral National Seashore Park. His hobby of identifying mushrooms, developed into the giving of many slide show presentations at local nature clubs. He became the “Fung Guy”.

His love of music continued by playing piano with his violinist friend in the “Dick & Doc Duo” and a local Geriatric Jazz Group. He also played the church organ when the organist needed a day off. He also sang with the church choir.

His thirst for learning never ceased as he constantly researched many things on the computer keeping up with medical news, financial matters and even political shenanigans.

In 2020 he and his wife moved to Texas to live with their daughter Jayne. Here he found new adventures in learning about trees and plants, etc.

Again, faced with some serious health situations, he always maintained a positive attitude because of his abiding Christian Faith and the deep love he knew he had not only for, but also from, his wife and daughters.