Edward Brant Tunstall

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Edward “Brant” Tunstall, who left us on August 12, 2025, after a three year stand against ALS.

Brant was born in San Diego, California, and grew up in Point Loma, graduating from Point Loma High School in 1986. His family went on many trips to the mountains of California and the beaches of Mexico, helping to instill a deep love of nature in Brant.

Brant loved the ocean and surfing the California coast and Hawaii and while doing so made lifelong friends. He would often walk beaches cleaning up debris. He was fond of a quick body-surf dip at anytime, clothing, or no, with January 1st of each year being a ritual until ALS took his mobility from him. A lifelong cyclist, Brant was known around Goleta for riding his bike everywhere he went.

He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a degree in Econ/Accounting and made Santa Barbara/Goleta his home.

He married Darla Sharp in 2011. They shared a love for music, dancing, laughs, travel, cooking, and UCSB.

Brant worked many years for Island Seed & Feed where he formed bonds with community growers and customers. He oversaw the planting of sub-tropical fruiting plants in the Santa Barbara foothills and assisted with experimental growing projects, including UC-Extension air-layering studies. He loved cultivating a wide variety of fruiting/flowering plants and took great pride in the vibrant yard he created at home; sharing with friends and family his propagations.

Even towards the end of his life, the stories and the laughter never stopped. His wit, warmth, and sense of humor remained a constant in his interactions with those around him. He had the soul of a long boarder, the skills of a chef, a keen sense of humor, and a sharp intellect. Those he loved knew and felt his love. His sensitive spirit, humor, and kindness touched many lives.

The family would like to thank Kathleen and Robin from the alsnetwork.org, and the Visiting Nurse Association of Santa Barbara health care professionals: Dayna, Lindsay, Laura, Lena, Alex, to name just a special few. And lastly gratitude and thanks to Juan and Gabriela. ALS is a terrible disease with no treatment and no hope and the people who help a person live with it are humans with outsized hearts.

Brant is survived by his parents, his sister, his nephew, his wife, his two adult stepkids, extended family and many friends; you know who you are.

We miss you deeply, Brant. Thank you for all the laughter and love.