David Lee Batt Jr.

David Lee Batt Jr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, mentor, and respected member of his community, passed away on August 30, 2026, in Yuma, Arizona. He was 78 years old.

David was born on July 23, 1948, in Brawley, California, and was raised in Livingston, California. Throughout his life, David dedicated himself to service, teaching, coaching, and helping others. His life was defined not only by his accomplishments, but by the way he treated the people around him.

At the age of 24, David joined the United States Army in 1972. During his military career, he served with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), where his exceptional skill and dedication to marksmanship earned him a place among the competitors of the President's Hundred. He traveled extensively for shooting competitions and later coached rifle teams, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his outstanding coaching and dedication to the athletes he mentored.

After retiring from the Army in 1988, David continued his career in public service. In 1989, he began working with the California Department of Corrections in Calipatria, where he served as an instructor and worked in the armory. He continued his work there until his full retirement in 2006.

Outside his professional life, David enjoyed golfing and spending time with fellow members of the Mount Signal Muzzle Loaders, a community he was especially fond of and proud to be part of.

Those who knew David will remember him as a man who treated everyone as an equal. He was honest, accepting, and nonjudgmental. He never judged people based on their appearance, their beliefs, or what they were going through in life. Instead, David had a natural ability to listen, understand, and guide people toward a better path.

There was something about David that drew people to him. He had a presence that could make people feel comfortable simply by being around him. Whether someone had known him for years or had just met him, David had a way of making people see and respect him. He carried himself with pride and always maintained a distinguished appearance, but his greatest impression came from the kindness, wisdom, and acceptance he showed to others.

David's legacy will live on not only through his accomplishments and years of service, but through the many lives he touched. He was a mentor to many, a steady source of guidance to those who needed it, and a person whose honesty and character earned the respect of those around him.

David is survived by his beloved wife, Mary, whom he married in 1965 and with whom he shared 61 years of marriage; his daughter, Denise Brown; his bonus son, Mauricio Beltran; and his grandchildren, Anthony Brown, Brennan Brown and his fiancée, Raven Donnelly, and Cara Brown. He is also survived by his best friends, Joseph Felix, John Weitzeil, and Gary Ellis; John's wife and David's beloved “inherited daughter,” Piper Weitzeil. He also leaves behind numerous siblings, extended family members, and friends who loved him dearly.

David was preceded in death by his mother, Minnie Lou Battinbau, his father, David S. Batt Sr., son-in-law Jeff Brown, and best friend Art Davis.

David Lee Batt Jr. leaves behind a legacy of service, dedication, friendship, honesty, and compassion. His life was one of commitment—to his country, to his work, to his family, and most importantly, to the people he encountered along the way. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.