Grace E. Detwiler of Perkasie, PA peacefully passed away Friday, February 21, 2025, at her home. She was 99 ½ years old. She was the devoted wife of 43 years of the late Paul R. Detwiler who passed away on Christmas Day, 1994.

Born in Media, PA, Grace was the third of five children of the late John H. and Helen (Reilley) Evans. After graduating from Media High School, Grace earned her degree in elementary education in 1947 from West Chester State Teachers College, West Chester, PA. During this time, she lived at home, taking the train between Media and West Chester for classes and activities. Summers were spent waitressing in Cape May, NJ.

Grace began her career as an elementary school teacher in Media, where she met her future husband, a fellow teacher and football coach. Grace and Paul were married in 1951. Together, they worked for several summers as camp counselors at Camp Lenape youth camp in the Poconos. In 1954 the couple moved to Perkasie, PA where Paul began his tenure at Pennridge High School. Grace taught in Doylestown, PA elementary schools for two years before taking time off to raise their family. She returned to teaching as a substitute elementary school teacher for the Pennridge School District in the late 1960's, retiring with her husband in 1981. Grace and her family were members of St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Perkasie.

After their move to the Perkasie area, Grace and Paul developed many friendships, mostly through their association with fellow teachers, and in particular with the Smith, Pritchard and Wack families. In 1961, the Detwiler family began construction of a cabin in the Poconos with the help of their good friends and neighbors. Grace loved family stays at the Poconos cabin, enjoying the lake, fishing, and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire. The friendships between the four families grew, and their time together included local gatherings in the Perkasie area, stays at the Smith and Detwiler cabins in the Poconos, and various trips. Grace treasured these friendships.

When Grace was a child, the Evans family began taking summer trips to Bar Harbor, Maine, where her father later built a summer cottage on Mount Desert Island. After her husband's death, Grace returned to Bar Harbor, taking annual summer trips to the area with her children and grandchildren. She also loved to visit her grandchildren in New Hampshire and New York as often as possible.

Grace was a dedicated Philadelphia Phillies baseball fan, watching many of the games. An avid cook and talented seamstress, she delighted in baking, cooking, and making clothes and costumes for her children and grandchildren. In her later years, Grace spent her time reading, working on jigsaw puzzles, and watching the birds at the feeder.  Most of all, she will be remembered for her love of her time with her family, especially with her grandchildren.

Grace is survived by her children, Paul B. Detwiler, of Perkasie, PA, and his wife Arlene E. Schilling, of Victor, NY; and Carla D. Goodheart and her husband Timothy, of Meredith, NH; her grandchildren, James Detwiler and his wife Quinn Karley, of Fairport, NY; Dr. Victoria "Tory" Goodheart, of Asheville, NC; Major Danica Goodheart, DVM, of Fayetteville, NC; and Kira Goodheart and her husband Kristopher Kloetz, of Meredith, NH; her great-granddaughter, Kennedy; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, John H. Evans Jr, Louise G. Miller, Edwin R. Evans and Richard P. Evans.

Grace's Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, March 3, 2025, at the Suess-Gahman Funeral Home & Crematory, 606 Arch Street, Perkasie, PA, where family and friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.  Interment will follow in Media Cemetery, Upper Providence Township, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Grace's family extends special thanks to the staff at the Pennridge Office of TriValley Primary Care as well as the staff at Grand View Health Cardiology Alderfer and Travis, both in Sellersville, PA.

Grace's Funeral Service can be live streamed via zoom, please use 123456 as the passcode. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84365702211?pwd=zvHM70fwX0bTec1tqxr72a5o8rc1z9.1