David Ross Beamer (belovedly known as "Barney"), age 72 of Galax, Virginia, passed away on Friday morning, March 6th, 2026, after a long battle with early onset Alzheimer's disease. He died peacefully while a resident at Galax Health and Rehabilitation Center.

David was born in Gastonia, North Carolina, on May 6th, 1953. At age four (4), he moved with his family to Galax, VA, where he lived until the time of his passing.  He was a 1971 graduate of Galax High School excelling in both academics and a variety of sports including football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation Management. David loved the Lord and faithfully attended the First Presbyterian Church of Galax prior to college and most recently the Blue Ridge Fellowship Church in Woodlawn, Virginia.

Survivors include his son Gunnar Jaret Beamer, his partner Amanda Bryan and grandson August Grey Beamer of Independence, Virginia; daughter Afton Paige Beamer and fiancé Tyler Brown of Raleigh, North Carolina; older brother Larry Beamer and wife Marcella Beamer of Woodlawn, VA; younger sister Ellen Beamer and husband Pat Hickert of Chapel Hill/Durham, North Carolina; younger sister Teresa Beamer Williams and husband Alan Williams of Sahuarita, Arizona, and niece Kyra Williams and husband Tyler Holt of Tampa, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorsey Cullen Beamer, Jr., and Sarah Ann Craig Beamer.

David will be remembered for his kind spirit, unwavering faith and his wonderful sense of humor that brought smiles and laughter to those around him.

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the many wonderful friends, doctors, dentists, nurses, caregivers, social services workers and others in the community who showed kindness and provided assistance to David throughout his life.

"And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me `the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God."   Revelation 21:10 ESV

A memorial service will be held at the Vaughan Guynn McGrady Chapel in Hillsville, Virginia, on Tuesday, March 31, at 11:00am.  Senior Pastor Scott Flippin of Blue Ridge Fellowship Church in Woodlawn, VA, will be officiating.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 until 11:00 AM prior to the memorial service.  Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.