David Lee Rinehart

David Lee Rinehart passed away peacefully on July 2, 2023, at the age of 79, in New Braunfels, Texas. He was known as ‘Bear’ to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. David had been sick for several months, but was able to spend his final days at home.‍

David was born on July 9, 1943 in Odessa, Texas, to General and Gladys Rinehart. He graduated from Odessa High School and attended Odessa College. David spent more than 30 years working in the oilfields of Odessa and Goldsmith. Then in 1989, David and his wife Cherie, relocated to New Braunfels, Texas, where they co-owned a river outfitter business on the Guadalupe for 10 years. He retired in 2020, after many years of work at New Braunfels Smokehouse. One often hears Cherie referring to them as having lived many different lives. Each one was special in its own way.

David had a love of the outdoors, and everything about horses. At one point he even took up horseshoeing. One of Leslie’s favorite memories is him teaching her how to ride horses at the age of 5, and later to show horses. He and Cherie loved their trips to the casinos of Las Vegas, Laughlin and Coushatta, where he enjoyed watching and studying horse racing. Cooking was another love of David’s, and his sharing of his cooking was enjoyed by his  family and friends. He would spend hours finding and preparing the perfect dish for the occasion, only to have it devoured in minutes. David’s favorite times were spent with family and friends – especially at Gruene Hall. He was known as being a quiet man. He was always listening to what others were saying, which endeared him to many. When David spoke, people listened. Not because he was soft spoken, or wasn’t going to repeat himself, but because you knew he had been truly listening and paying attention, so what he said was well thought out and meaningful.

He is survived by his wife, Cherie Nolan Rinehart of 49 years; daughter, Davise Rinehart Riley and son-in-law Richard, of Frisco; daughter, Darla Rinehart, of Midland; daughter Leslie Hicks-Yorfino and son-in-law Joey, of Garden Ridge; brother Mark Rinehart and sister-in-law Renee, of Blanco; sister-in-law, Debbie Nolan of Bernalillo; brother-in-law Pat Nolan and sister-in-law Mary, of Lubbock; and sister-in-law Laurie Michna and brother-in-law Randy, of the Houston area. Along with grandchildren, Hailie and Joshua Anderson, Cory and Kaitlyn Rinehart, Johnny Reinhart and Ryan Cabe, Jeremy Rinehart, Amanda Riley, Griffin Riley, Gary Johnson and Levi Yorfino, as well as three wonderful great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He is predeceased by his parents; mother-in-law, Mildred Nolan; father-in-law, W.E. Nolan;  sister, Mary Smith;  brother-in-law, Jimmy Smith; brother-in-law, Mike Nolan and nephew, Lance Rinehart.

We will miss David and his quiet nature and love for life very much.