David A. Gorsline

David A. Gorsline passed away peacefully at his home in Windham, PA, on May 27, 2024. Born on January 13, 1946, at Tioga General Hospital in Waverly, NY, David’s life was characterized by faith, generosity, kindness, and creativity.

David was one of seven children to bless the lives of Isaac W. Gorsline and Mavis (Case) Henshaw. He grew up with, and remained close to his siblings Linda Hammond, Everett (Kelly) Gorsline, Richard (Kathy) Gorsline, Glen (Elizabeth) Gorsline, Carol Gorsline, and Bonnie O'Shea (David Felt). His life was further enriched by the joy of his children, Adrian (Debbie) Gorsline, Deidre (Mario) Bobet, and Scott Gorsline, as well as his beloved grandchildren Justin (Laina) Race, Tyler Race, Adrian (Tara) Race, Amanda (AJ) Sepelak, Micah Gorsline, Donovan Wynn, and Brooke Rogers, and his cherished great-grandchildren Isaiah Race, Onyx Race, Levi Sepelak, and Ozzy Race. In addition to his parents, Isaac and Mavis, David was pre-deceased by his maternal grandmother, Sarah Nichols Case, his brother-in-law, James Hammond, and his nephew Mitchell Stahl. David is survived by Anita (Arnold) Bennett, mother of his oldest children, Linda (Brentlinger) Brubaker, mother of his youngest son, and Rebecca (O’Dell) Gorsline, good friend and grandmother to Brooke Rogers. David will be missed dearly by his many nieces and nephews, who affectionately called him Uncle David.

David’s educational journey included his graduation from Athens High School in 1963, followed by a time in the seminary in Chicago, Illinois. While he did not pursue pastoral work, he was active in ministry throughout his life. He looked for opportunities to help, serve, and invest in people. Fueled by his faith, and passion to share the gospel, he often found creative ways to teach biblical concepts, including creating and teaching unique crafts to children. He was passionate about his biblical research; he studied Greek and developed profound concepts and ideas that he often wrote about. He was a deep thinker who often saw things in a very imaginative way.

His work life was as varied and vibrant as the man himself; a self-employed jack-of- all-trades, David's skill set was vast and impressive. From working as a cabinet maker for Zenith to designing and selling his own wood-burning furnaces, he could do it all. David was skilled at salvaging materials to create something new to fix or solve physical problems. For example, David used recycled car wheels welded together to create the heat exchanger for his wood-burning furnaces. Inspired by the Energy crisis in the 1970’s he devised a water- based solar heating system for the roof of his home. He designed a floor-to-ceiling working water wheel that irrigated plants and flowers, creating a solarium/greenhouse as the entranceway to one of his homes. David’s designs are numerous, with many attesting that their homes contain beautiful, unique features on account of David’s handiwork. Other businesses included construction, digging sewers, and auto frame and body repair on collision vehicles. His creativity and mechanical aptitude were unparalleled.

Dave's interests were as eclectic as his skills. David was an avid hunter, enjoying the time he spent with family in this pursuit. He also loved nature and animals; he rescued several wild animals that later became pets, including several racoons, squirrels, a skunk, and a fox. He even rescued a beaver, for which he created a beaver den. More notable is the bear den that he built, inspired by multiple sightings of a mama bear and her five cubs. Fearing the mama bear would not find a big enough shelter, David gathered his extended family together to fix this problem. David’s backhoe was used to dig the hole, old telephone poles were fashioned into a roof, and leaves were placed for the bed.

David took immense pleasure in rebuilding an old 1932 Model B Ford Truck, which became a vessel for creating memories with his grandchildren. They cherished rides in the antique vehicle, listening to his stories, and absorbing the wisdom he imparted. As Helen Keller once said, "What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us." David’s stories and lessons will continue to resonate with and inspire his family and friends.

In remembering Dave, one cannot help but reflect on the words that truly encapsulate his essence: generous, faith-filled, and creative. His presence was a gift to those who knew him, and his legacy of kindness and creativity will live on in the hearts of many.

We will gather on Sunday, June 9th for a period of visitation from 3-4pm at the Windham Summit Bible Church. A memorial service will follow at 4pm with his friend, Pastor C. Kenneth Crain, officiating. Memories and condolences may be shared by visiting his guestbook at www.sutfinfuneralchapel.com Those who wish may kindly consider a memorial contribution to Guthrie Hospice, 421 Tomahawk Road, Towanda, PA 18848 in loving memory of David A. Gorsline.

A special thank you to the caregivers for all the love and care they provided to Dad. David’s life was a testament to the beauty of a life well-lived, filled with faith, love, and a boundless capacity for giving. David’s memory will be cherished and celebrated by all who were fortunate enough to know him.