Sadly Grumpy, Wayne Barnhart, passed away at home on Sunday, June 8th, 2025.
Grumpy was passionate about the Misfits and a real Misfit thru and thru. He was the driving force behind our annual Misfits BB’s Lawnside BBQ Blues Cruise and I am glad that we had the “Not Final Final” and Wayne was there to see it. He perhaps wasn’t all that Grumpy, well maybe he was if he had to get up before midday! But otherwise no worries.
Grumpy was born February 27th, 1945 in Ottawa, KS. He spent most of his life working at different Printing Companies. After that he went to Strauss’s and did small engine repair, which led to doing small engine repairs at his house, “Grumps Garage”.
He enjoyed cruising in a Hot Rod or Kustom car. The ones I knew him with were the fleetline, the shoebox Ford (ex Pops), then the various El Camino’s. The fleetline as I observed, could balance a wine glass on the bench seat in-between his legs while cruising around Bartlesville checking out the hotel car parks on a Stray Kat weekend… no spillage! We often talked about his days drag racing and racing motorbikes.
I think we all have some “Grumpy-isms” that we can think of, and can share at a later date when a celebration of life will be held for Grumpy. Details will be posted when it’s organized.
Thanks to Kyle, Billy & Jim for photos and the one where Grumpy is bitching at Bill France, Grumpy had sent me 12 years ago.
Going to miss you Grumpy! Rest in Peace.
