Gail L. Detar

On November 25, 2025, Gail L. Detar (son of Ray and Thelma Detar of Titusville, PA) called out the old biker’s rallying cry “Over the hill!” With that, he busted the hill, busted the gear, and swept away the mysteries that accompany this brief life on earth. Born October 18, 1945, he would come to see just how blessed his life would be, though he was sometimes slow to understand.

In high school, God introduced him to a pretty blue-eyed girl, Christine Streich, who soon became his passion, then his wife, and then mother to their 2 children: Anita Detar Mountain (Jim) and Eric Detar (Paula), all responsible citizens. There followed grandchildren: JR Mountain, Daniel Mountain (Shelley Fath), Mackenzie Mountain Bird (Derek), Anna Detar Lavin (William), Matthew Mountain (Chloe Fye) and Noah Detar (Kailey Murray), all of whom have grown into responsible citizens who have made him proud of his role in their growth. Now a great grandson, Henry, has joined this family. He loved his dog, Ivy.

He was the first student to enroll in the newly established University of Pittsburgh at Titusville as a student of Mechanical Engineering, graduating with a B.S.M.E. War intervened, and after 4+ years in the USAF stationed at Robins AFB, Georgia, he returned home to learn that jobs were hard to find. But again God intervened, sending his resume to the wrong person at GE. Although the right person didn’t know GE needed him, the wrong person followed up and he soon began a 39+ year career as a design engineer, helping GE to build locomotives and transit cars, and logging over 33,000 commuter miles on his bicycle along the way. He later followed the B.S. from Pitt with a Master’s degree in Engineering Science from Penn State Behrend.

Along this path, God blessed us (Chris and Gail, always a team) with opportunities to serve such as leading a youth ministry, teaching Bible study, leading Folk Choirs, and finally blessing us with several years leading the United Methodists of the Erie area in supporting Our Neighbors’ Place. (This collaborative effort between many Churches of Erie provides our homeless neighbors with a warm, safe place to sleep during Erie’s cold winters and is now part of EUMA’s ministries.)

Although never a Boy Scout, he and Chris served as Cub Scout den leaders and Gail then became a part of “Snoopy’s Tribe” Boy Scout Troop. Gail spent several years as a volunteer at Asbury Woods Nature Center. He loved spending time with his family enjoying nature through hiking and camping.

And for the last 6 years, Chris and he had joined the staff of volunteers at Presque Isle Light House where Gail loved the weekly climb of the 78 steps to the top of the tower to glory in the beauty of God’s creation from atop the tower and to explain why there’s a light house there, how it worked when it was new, and how it works now.

Gail has two brothers, Dwight Detar (Judi) and Terry Detar; and a sister Joyce Fitzgerald (Jock). Also two sisters-in-law, Pat Tracy (Tim) and Heidi Streich (Sharon). Memorials may be made to Asbury United Methodist Church or the Erie United Methodist Alliance.

Friends will be received at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd on Sunday, November 30, 2025, from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM and are invited to a Service of Celebration on Monday, December 1, 2025, 11:00 AM, at Asbury United Methodist Church (4703 West Ridge Rd). Private interment.