Teddy Roosevelt "Ted" Barnhart Jr.

1928 - 2025

Teddy ("Ted") Roosevelt Barnhart Jr, age 96, of Ijamsville, MD, formerly of Phoenix, MD, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Born June 3, 1928 in Adair, OK, he was the son of Teddy Roosevelt Barnhart Sr, and Nan Poplin Barnhart. He grew up in Muskogee, OK where he developed his life-long passion for fishing. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1952 with a BS degree in Chemical Engineering.

Ted began his career at Esso in Aruba where he lived for five years and met the love of his life, Delsy Elizabeth Moro. In 1957 he moved with his growing family to Tulsa, OK and became chief processing engineer at the Sunray DX refinery. In 1963 he started a 33-year career in petroleum catalyst sales with the Davison Chemical division of W.R. Grace. He transferred to Baltimore, MD in 1968 and progressed through a series of management and executive roles within the U.S. and Europe, capping his career as Vice President of International Marketing developing business alliances in Europe and China.

He was an avid gardener, but Ted's real passion was fly fishing. He regularly fished the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park and worked to protect fish habitats. During his retirement, he continually refined his techniques for building hand-crafted bamboo fly rods. He is known for his development of the universal ferrule and the double taper full convex bamboo fly rod.

Ted is survived by his three daughters: Lisa Blair, Sabrina Barnhart and Theodora "Teddie" Barnhart Kiley, and eight grandchildren. Ted was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Delsy Barnhart, and three sisters. He is also survived by his dear friend Edward Ma, of Hong Kong.

Visitation will be Saturday, February 1 from 12 PM to 1 PM, followed by Services starting at 1pm at Keeney and Basford Funeral Homes, 106 E. Church St, Frederick, MD. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Muskogee, OK on February 8.