It was such a shock to get the news that our 56 year old friend, Arlin, a beloved husband and father to 13 amazing children, died of a heart attack last week.
(The attached video is one you won’t forget soon!) You will have to click to redirect to fb to watch, but it’s worth it!
He was playing ball with his grandson in Sarasota when it happened and the EMTs could not revive him.
Our families have been vacationing together for almost 10 years. Many times, we were privileged to sit around this huge family table, sharing the most delicious food they grew in their own garden in Lancaster county.
We would wake up to the sound of horse drawn carriages in the street and Arlin, making some amazing family recipe of pancakes passed down from generations.
To hear them sing like this was something I’ll never forget as long as I live! The faith and love In this family is so unique and magnetizing.
I only wish everyone could witness it at least once in their lives kuz the world would be a better place and indeed it is because of this man’s life. He followed the voice of God like Abraham and led his family out of the roots they grew up in and they were all blessed because of his courage and obedience.
Love you all! Edith Detwiler, Amos Detwiler, Regina Rose Detwiler Ulrich, Charles Ulrich, Rosa Detwiler Martin, John, Sharon Detwiler Stoltzfus, Mike,
Marie Detwiler Beiler, marvin, Titus Detwiler, Brittany, John and Crystal, Peter, Anna, James, Sarah, Joel, and David.
And the many many precious grandchildren!!!
I am forever changed because of the love and kindness of each one of you! You inspire me!
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Written by his lovely wife, Edith:
Monday afternoon, February 25, my precious Arlin suddenly finished the race of life and entered into eternal rest with Jesus, the One he loved.
The morning before leaving this earth Arlin said, “Edith, the Lord showed me that I can trust Him completely in death just as I could trust Him throughout life. I will be completely in His hands and I can trust Him.”
For all of us it was very unexpected. Looking back now over the last year especially, it is now very clear that the Lord was preparing him well. I heard him say many times, “I did what I wanted. Everything I did was for my family.” He taught his children to love God and His Word, to love people, to value the art of living, and to enjoy working and spending time together.
We worked together raising and selling produce and flowers many years. In 2008, Arlin and the boys started Detwiler Roofing. The last few years he handed the management over to his sons and allowed them to run with it. He trained Joel in 2017. His heart and focus was David in 2018. Those two were together countless hours. In recent months, Arlin decided to begin to sell out his share in the business over the next number of years. “I’m ready for the next season,” he’d say.
Arlin was deeply committed to pursuing God and knowing Him better. He focused on personal growth. He was always striving to enhance relationships. In early December he spent a week in Colorado alone with God and attending a weekend seminar by Family Foundations International. He was deeply touched by the course and we all felt it in the following weeks.
We traveled with our younger children this fall. To his brother Luke’s wedding in KY in October and my nephew Davins’s wedding in Mississippi in November. We showed the children where we lived in Tennessee and we visited the Ark Encounter on the way back. We took them to Niagara Falls
One weekend in August, Arlin and I went to Honduras for five days in October, for my birthday. We had bought a small property there last year and we love to go and dream about what the Lord has for us there in the future.
In the beginning of 2019, we spent 2 weeks in California for the wedding of my nephew Kevin. We took time to go sightseeing from northern CA down to LA. We even saw the Giant Sequoias, something we’d dreamed of “someday”. We visited my brother Wilmer and family out there and Arlin’s sister Faith and family, and his cousin Clayton Derstine and family. We visited old friends Sam and Betsey Putt and Issacs and Lena Martin which were all very sweet visits. Arlin picked up a book at the Goodwill when we bought his suit for the wedding. “The Cross” by Rob Parsley, which we read out loud together as we traveled…… Oh, the glorious exchange of the Cross!!! He gave the book away when we were done and wanted me to order another one so we can read it again.
January 24, I flew to Honduras with our daughter Marie and her little Maverick, my sister Joanna and a few friends. January 31, Arlin and David drove down to Fort Lauderdale and met Amos. They had a bit of time with him and then he took them to the airport. They joined me there in Honduras February 2. We had 8 lovely days together in Honduras, quality time with each other and our youngest son David, 15. We spent time at the beautiful “Villa Helen’s Hotel and Restaurant” La Ceiba. We took a little boat to see the islands and David had so much fun snorkeling in one of the most amazing coral reefs in the world. We visited my brother Jeremiah and family on his very beautiful farm in El Edén. Another highlight was the beautiful Sunday morning service we attended in San Pedro Sula at Iglesia Cephad. During Communion they played the song “Oh, How He Loves Us” repeatedly. (in Spanish). Arlin said it was unusually powerful and meaningful to him.
Early Monday morning, February 11, the three of us flew to Fort Lauderdale. Our son Amos picked us up at the airport and we had breakfast with him and his family in their home. In the afternoon we drove over to Sarasota area to visit Arlin’s mom, who he hadn’t seen for over a year, his brother Henry and family and our daughter Sharon and Mike and family. David stayed at Mike’s and we slept at Henry’s. Every morning we went over to “Grammy’s”, made breakfast, sat and talked, and Arlin would
do whatever needed to be done. Fix the garbage disposal, the lazy Susan so it could turn. He put some awnings on the windows. He helped me string up some lights on the porch and wash the ceiling in the enclosed porch. He fixed up the landing at the door. The last morning there he and Henry were trying to figure out what was wrong with the dryer.
And then we’d go out to Myakka to Mike’s for several hours. Pick up chicken or steak to grill out there on the little charcoal grill Arlin had brought along down from home. Or fresh fruit and veggies at Henry’s store. Myles and David wanted to build a tree house, so Arlin took the boys to Home Depot for tools and supplies and helped them get that project going.
He fixed the tire on Mikes trailer and fixed the gate out at the road. He showed Makai (5) and Delicia (7) how to build a fire. And we sat on the patio with Sharon and Mike and had coffee and talks. And then there was the beach. Arlin loved the ocean. Standing ankle deep as the waves lapped
over his bare feet. Picking up seashells and looking for sand dollars. He knew which the best place to find them there on Lido Beach. And especially he loved watching the waves in the moonlight. If we woke up early in the morning, he’d ask me if I wanted to go out to watch the sunrise. We’d go while it was still dark. Find a spot on that beautiful white sand to place our blanket and we’d sit there together. Basking in the peace and glory and the Presence of God. And each other. Listening for a Word from the Lord. Sharing. It was very sweet.
After two weeks in FL, on Sunday night, February 24, we decided to park out by the ocean for the night. We were planning to head home to PA the following evening, so this was our last opportunity. Arlin wanted to sleep under the stars out on the sand by the ocean. I was chilly so I slept on the back seat of the Buick. I went out to him in the moonlight around 5:30 and sat with him as we watched the morning break. He said to me, “Edith, the Lord showed me that I can trust Him completely in death just as I could trust Him throughout life. I will be completely in His hands and I can trust Him.”
Then we went to his Mom for breakfast. He said “Mom, listen. This is very important. I can trust God in death just as I trusted Him in life.” His brother Henry came and he and Arlin were working on getting Mom’s dryer going.
Arlin and I left soon and headed to Mike’s for the day. We wanted to spend the day there and go to Myles’ first ball game in the evening, then head home after that. Arlin had me buy a flight back because the Buick smelled like anti-freeze and he didn’t want me inhaling that all the way home. Arlin played with Makai for awhile, kicking the soccer ball around the place. Then he helped Myles practice for his game in the evening. It was a beautiful day, very pleasant and a bit breezy. Arlin and I cleaned out the car in preparation for the drive home. He vacuumed and I organized.
David had wanted to go to the Goodwill and Sharon had planned to take him earlier, but it hadn’t worked out. So, after lunch Mike, Sharon, David and I went to the bank and Goodwill. Arlin stayed there with the 3 children to keep practicing with Myles. Sharon said, “Myles, you play hard with Pop-pop, play like it’s your last chance to play with him!!” When we pulled out Arlin was sitting in his car with the dog sitting on the seat beside him. He had a tape playing that Grammy gave him, an old one that he had listened to repeatedly when he was 14 recovering from having his toe shot off.
After we left, Myles (age10) and his Pop-pop played ball. Myles says Pop-pop really played. He ran and he laughed a lot. They had fun. More fun than they ever had together. Then Pop-pop said, “Let’s take a break.” So, Myles went inside for a drink. When he came back outside his Pop-pop was lying there, already blue. He made a few gasps and was trying to say something, ”I love you Myles. Tell David I love him. I love you all.” Myles called Mike and ran to the neighbor. By the time we could get back the paramedics had already been working on him quite a while. He had a slight pulse when they took him to the hospital. But before they arrived there was no pulse at all.
We do not understand, at all, but we have peace. This was not a surprise to God. The Lord reigns. We are still, knowing that He is God.