Mr. Richard Edward Daetwyler, age 85, of Mineral Bluff, GA, passed away September 28, 2012, in the Fannin Regional Hospital. He was the son of the late Paul and Anna Zumbach Daetwyler.  He served his country in the United States Navy.  After graduating college Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV he worked for a number of years for Fairchild Air Craft Co. in Hagerstown, MD and later for Lockheed Air Craft Marietta, GA. There he was a design engineer where he received the patent design for the loading system for the C1-41 and later on other air craft.  During his time in Marietta, GA he served in many capacities for Antioch Baptist Church in Marietta such as Deacon, assistant youth leader, Sunday school teacher and a choir member.After he and his family moved to Epworth, he later joined Epworth Baptist Church.  He had been a very active member of the community for many years. Mr. Daetwyler was a Past Master of the McCay Masonic Lodge and Past Worthy Patron of Marietta Chapter O.E.S.  He was a founding member of the Whistle Stop Blue Grass Band played for fifteen years for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and other venues.  He and his wife were founding volunteers of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.  He was also a member of the Wolf Creek Blue Grass Band that entertained for the Copper Basin Senior Center for eight years.

Survivors include his wife of sixty and one half years,  Edith Collett Daetwyler; children, Sonya Jean Daetwyler and Ronnie Lamanac of Epworth, GA, Michael Shane and Nancy King Daetwyler of Bradenton, FL and  Dr. Patricia Lynn Daetwyler and Derek Hart of Powder Springs, GA; sister, Norma Moore Stalnaker of Elkins, WV; grandchildren, Richard Shane Daetwyler (Kelli), Amy Leigh Wuellner (Scott), Christopher Wayne Daetwyler (Christy) and Andrew Lawson Lamanac; one great grandchild, Madison Brooke Daetwyler; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services were conducted Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Tom Jordan and Rev. Lawrence Burge officiating.  Interment followed in the Crestlawn Cemetery with full military honors provided by the North Georgia Honor Guard.  Serving as pallbearers were Richard Daetwyler, Shane Daetwyler, Andrew Lamanac, Scott Wuellner, Neal Collett and Frank Collett.  Serving as honorary pallbearers were the members of the Blue Ridge Scenic Rail Road, Bill Cochran and Ben Callihan. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation, Breast Cancer Research or to the In the Light Youth Ministries at First Baptist Church, Epworth, GA.