Resident of Salinas

David Thornberry, born Feb.16, 1933 in Shreveport, Louisiana, died peacefully on Oct. 21, 2025, with loving family by his side. Dave or Pat (as he was also known) called Monterey County home for most of his life. During his formative years, his family moved from Louisiana to Texas. His childhood included swamp adventures, drinking raw milk straight from the family cow and savoring his Grandma's stellar Southern cooking. After attending North Dallas High School, Texas A&M, and Kilgore College, David earned a degree in Entomology from the University of Arizona. He first came to the Monterey Bay in 1953 when drafted and stationed at Fort Ord. David's family later settled in Blythe, CA, where he met and married his wife Carol. In 1959, the newlyweds drove up the coast to honeymoon in Carmel. David loved to retell the story of checking into Hofsas House, when they asked the hotel clerk if the room had an ocean view. She tossed the key across the desk and quipped, "You're not here to look at the view. Go to your room!," David, an avid storyteller with a brilliant memory, could still recount what they ordered for dinner that night at Mission Ranch.

David and Carol raised 4children and were married 49 years, until Carol died in 2008. David devoted himself to a lifelong career in agriculture spanning the Palo Verde Valley, Yuma, AZ, and Salinas. He was a seedsman and became proud co-founder/owner of Synergene Seed with his partner Merv Selvidge. He was a generous tipper, a sincere friend and akind man of strong integrity and often irreverent wit. He enjoyed recounting his own life memories, peppered with humor and astounding detail.

Decades after the closure of Fort Ord, he still enjoyed driving through the base to reminisce about his military service and point out the old barracks, chapel and mess hall. David was a member of St. Joseph's Parish and also cherished his golf community at The Club at Crazy Horse Ranch. He loved his grandkids, golf, fishing, nature, long drives listening to Willie's Roadhouse, and a good chile relleno. He is survived by his devoted SPCA dog (Bogie), 4 children (Amy, Sally, Kelly & Patrick) and 4 granchildren (Sophia, Georgia, Saniya & Elyas). A Cel- ebration of Life will be held at The Club at Crazy Horse Ranch in Salinas on Dec. 27 (12- 3pm) and amemorial service at San Carlos Cemetery in Monterey, Dec. 29 at 10:45 am.