David Lee Ringhoffer

Mr. David Lee Ringhoffer, 35, of Chatsworth, died Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

He was born March 11, 1987, in Dalton, to John C. Ringhoffer and Cynthia Stanley Ringhoffer.

He graduated 2005 from Murray County High School and attended University of Georgia in Athens from 2005 to 2009.

We loved David unconditionally. There were two Davids; the one before the TBI 19 years ago and the one trying to recover from the physical and mental scars.

He had TBI, traumatic brain injury, which does not have a cure. The car accident when he was 16 years old changed his life and all of our lives, then and now. He struggled to recover for the rest of his life. Recovery was not so simplistic as we were advised by the neurologists; “get him active, in school, doing, as soon as possible.”

He was very outgoing and active. His happiest moments were often on two wheels from age 5 — learning to bicycle without training wheels, to off-road and on-road motorcycling. Throughout the years at Murray County schools, he played catcher in baseball, ran cross-country, played soccer, tennis and golf. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad and uncles. He hiked and loved the outdoors.

A close schoolmate recently said, “Life is messy and tough. He was always the smartest guy in the room, he was charming, sharp tongued and witty. I always thought he would figure out his path, and it could be a beautiful journey. I hate that it has ended.”

He recently stated that “life is like a sneeze that never quite arrives.”

We all love you, David.

He is preceded in death by fiancé, Elizabeth “Beth” Kirby on March 29, 2022.

He is survived by parents, John and Cynthia Ringhoffer; sister and brother-in-law, Jade and Sean Durkan; nieces and nephew, Cailyn Durkan, Mckenna Durkan and Callum Durkan.

He will be cremated, and his ashes spread at a later date. No services are planned.

Contributions can be made to All Kids Bike at stridereducationfoundation-bloom.kindful.com or the Brain Injury Association of America (link included in the online obituary at www.bernhardtfh.com).