Darrol A. Detrick

Darrol A. Detrick, 86, of Springville, Pa., passed away on Friday, November 18, 2016 at Endless Mountains Health Systems in Montrose, Pa. He was born in Bentonville, Ark., on Oct. 5, 1930, to the late LaRoy and Margaret Jane (Quick) Detrick.

He faithfully served our country in the US Marines for four years, the US Air Force Reserves for four years, and the US Army for 22 years, retiring from active duty as a Chief Warrant Officer (CW3). As a young Marine, he served in active combat duty during the Korean War, and in the Army during the Vietnam War. His military specialty was advanced electronics and missile and radar technology.

The military was his career, but his passion in life was being a loving husband and father, and in serving his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of the greatest gifts he gave to his three children was the gift of being an excellent example of a loving and respectful husband to their mother, Dottie Detrick. He would often hug and kiss her openly, tell her he loved her, eat and compliment all her food - except for her one-time cottage cheese, tomato soup, and peanut casserole, never say anything negative or unloving to her face or behind her back, and never complain about her frequent moving of the furniture, even if it caused him to trip in the dark as he went to the kitchen in the middle of the night.

He was amazingly neat, orderly and organized. He never went camping with the family without proactively leaving each campsite at least twice as clean as it was when he arrived. He taught by words and actions that we are all responsible for respecting our environment, and we should never use the laziness, messiness or disrespect of other people as an excuse for not keeping public or private places neat and clean.

He truly loved all people regardless of their color and ethnicity. Even back when it was socially acceptable in many circles to be a racist, he would often invite young soldiers of all ethnicities, whom he worked with, to come home with him to eat dinner and spend holidays with his family in his home, telling his kids that he wanted to make sure these guys felt supported, accepted and like they had a home away from home. He always encouraged those around him to love and respect each other, and to solve their differences in a Christ-like way.

He was deeply spiritual, and loved and honored God in every way possible. He believed strongly in doing the will of the Lord. He prayed often that God would lead him and his family to the places and people whom the Lord wanted them to serve, even when it was not convenient or fun. It is highly improbable that he ever ate a meal without first giving thanks to God for it in prayer. Personal, public, and family prayer was as much a part of his life as was breathing. His love and deep devotion to the Lord was abundantly apparent in his public and professional life as well as behind closed doors with his wife and family.

His honesty and integrity are almost legendary. His son, Michael, recalls a few occasions when his dad would notice that a cashier had given him too much change, and he would always return the excess with no hesitation. One event they recall was when he realized he had received five cents too much change after leaving a hamburger stand. He turned the car around and drove back a few miles to return it, telling the children that honesty applied to a single penny or nickel as much as it did to a thousand dollars. Whenever he sold his used car to someone, he always made sure it was fixed up as much as possible, told the buyer of any problems it might still have, and always insisted on accepting a price considerably lower than the real value of the car, just in case the car might have a problem in the near future.

Church was always an integral part of his life. From a very young age, he went to church regularly. In the early part of his life he was a very active member of the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ Church, serving in various positions such as choir member, choir director, and Sunday school teacher. After joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1971, he continued to serve in various positions including music director, home teacher, Sunday school teacher, and Bishop, as well as serving three full-time missions with his wife, Dottie.

Music was always one of his great loves. One of his unfulfilled ambitions was to be an elementary school music teacher. He played trombone in the Marine band, played the guitar, and shared his musical talents often through his beautifully rich baritone voice. He sang in public as well as in the home, often singing duets with his equally-talented wife. His children remember waking up many mornings, especially Sunday mornings before church, to the angelic sounds of their parents rehearsing choir hymns. Those were special moments and will be cherished always.

He never uttered a mean or unkind word about anyone, and often even prayed for the happiness and success of those who might be considered his enemies. He truly exemplified Christ-like benevolence and love in all his actions and words. He touched many lives with inspired spiritual counsel, and left behind a legacy of integrity, honestly, respectfulness, patriotism, and Christian living that has, and will continue to inspire all who knew him and all who will come after him. He will be dearly missed, and yet in the midst of the sorrow his wife, family and friends now feel, there is joy in knowing that he is now in a much better place, and that family ties and relationships are eternal and will continue far beyond the horizon of this mortal existence.

He was also predeceased by a half-brother, Larol Detrick, and half-sister, Bertha Cook.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Dorothy J. "Dottie" (Mick) Detrick; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael Detrick and his wife, Emily, of Canada, and Steven Detrick and his wife, Linda, of Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter and son-in-law, Cindy Chudleigh and her husband, David, of Springville, Pa.; 11 grandchildren, Jason Detrick, Analiese Passey and her husband, Alex, Christopher Detrick and his wife, Emily, Jennilee Detrick, Suzanne Bell and her husband, Randy, Brian Chudleigh and his wife, Michelle, Julia Salemme and her husband, Patrick, MaryBeth Buffington and her husband, Eric, John Detrick, Kent Detrick and his wife, Elizabeth, and Rachel Detrick; 20 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Alvin Detrick and his wife, Karen, of Colorado; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the Montrose Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Ryan Wilcox presiding. Interment was in the Lynn Cemetery in Springville, Pa. Friends could call on the family an hour prior to the service.

Daniel K. Regan Funeral Home at 232 South Main St. in Montrose, Pa., was in charge of arrangements.