David Vorhes

David Vorhes 1938 – 2024
David was born May 9, 1938, at Daisey, Oklahoma on the Brock
Miller Ranch where his father, John, was the manager. During WWII
his father John came to California seeking employment and secured
a position at The Basalt Rock Company in Napa. David’s mother,
Dell, soon followed with 6-year-old David and his older brother
Zane. They were not able to find housing, so they moved into the
post-war housing complex, Ship Yard Acres, located where The
Napa Valley Memorial Gardens is now on Soscol Avenue. It was
there that David made many life-longs friends.

Eventually, the family were able to find a house in Napa and David
started elementary school at Sheer School. During summer breaks,
David went to Oregon to work in the woods with his uncle falling
and bucking trees. As he got older and found himself restless, he
left home to work in the New Mexico oil fields.

David’s father, John, had excellent skills as a brick-mason and soon
secured a position with Jorgensen Masonry Company where he ran
jobs until he retired. When David returned home from the oil fields
of New Mexico, his dad talked him into pursuing a career in
bricklaying. After completing an apprenticeship, David earned the
title of Brickmason; skilled not only in laying brick, but also cement
and glass block, terracotta, granite, and fire brick used in fireplaces
and the very tall smokestacks at oil refineries. He worked on the
Christian Brother’s World Headquarters and the Hyatt Regency
Hotel in San Francisco, the three Catholic churches in Napa, the
Napa Register building, Napa Safeway stores, the street sidewalks
in downtown Napa, as well as many other jobs throughout
California. David ended his career after 30 years due to physical
limitations but soon began a new 20-year career as a firearms
engraver.

David always had a talent for drawing and was able to express
himself through his beautiful engravings of animals and game
scenes, as well as many styles of scroll work. David was a member
of the California Waterfowl Association Ducks Unlimited, and The
Elk Foundation. These organizations held annual dinners where
new shotguns were auctioned to raise money. David was
requested to engrave these guns and did so voluntarily for many
years. He also engraved firearms, knives, belt buckles, wedding
and baby gifts for friends and customers, as well as for jewelry
stores in Napa and St. Helena.

David was featured in the article, “The Art of Engraving,” with a
photo of his work in Guns Digest Magazine, as well as in the
publication, Hand Gun Digest.

David and his wife Jane celebrated 50 happy years of marriage in
March 2013. David will always be remembered by his humorous wit
and easy smile.

He was predeceased by his parents John & Dell Vorhes, infant
brother W.E. Vorhes, older brother John Vorhes, his wife Jane and
son Dwayne.

He is survived by: sisters: Linda Krueger and Della Lair (Al);
brother: Zane Vorhes (SaraLu) of Sacramento;
granddaughters: Alicia Vorhes of Boise, Idaho; Jessica Steele
(Scott) of Kuna Idaho;
great-grandaughters: Aiyana Miller and Jaden Steele
great-grandson: Wesley Steele

Interment at Tulocay Cemetary next to his wife Jane and son
Dwayne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Vorhes, please visit our floral store.