David Mathay Stillings

"Tempus Fugit"

David Mathay Stillings, age 86, died on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at his home, in the company of his family and dogs. David was born on April 26, 1929, the son of David McClain Stillings and Helen Irene (Mathay) Stillings.

He and his younger brother William Keith Stillings grew up in Sharon, Pa. After graduating Sharon High School in 1947, David worked for Sharon Steel before enrolling at Kent State University in 1948. He had completed three years at Kent when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951. In the USAF, he trained as an aircraft mechanic for B29 bombers and spent three years flying B29s as a flight engineer for the 58th Weather Squadron at the Eielson AFB, Alaska. Upon his discharge in 1955, David began working for Packard Electric in Warren, Ohio, where he remained until 1961 when he left to complete his teaching degree at the California University of PA (B.A., Industrial Arts, 1962). In 1958, he married Brenda Rose Bowser of Sharon, Pa., and they moved to Erie, Pa., in 1963. In Erie, he taught Industrial Arts at Tech Memorial (1963-1967) while attending Edinboro University (M.S., Guidance and Counseling, 1966). In 1966, he became an Academic Counselor for the Evening and Summer Residency programs at Behrend College and continued in this position until 1987. In 1967, he became a guidance counselor at McDowell High School in Millcreek Township, having spent summers building the first boardwalk trails at the Asbury Woods Nature Center. He continued to work for the Millcreek School District until his retirement in 1991.

David was an avid musician who sang in the choir at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in Erie, and for a short time in the mid-1960s, sang and played trumpet in the house band at the Maennerchor Club. He was an accomplished bridge player and became a "Certified Master" in the ACBL. David taught himself clock repair and spent 25 years repairing clocks for friends and family, and part-time for Les Crago Jewelers. David was a member of the Masonic Jerusalem Lodge #19 in Ohio, the Scottish Rite Valley of Erie, and the Zem Zem Shrine.

In 2013, due to failing health, David and Brenda moved to Reno, Nev., to live with family.

David is survived by his wife, Brenda; his daughter, Lisa (Reno, Nev.); son, Keith (Skippack, Pa.); their respective spouses, Simon Poulson and Mary (Stahl) Stillings; his faithful dachshund, Alfie; and his adopted red heelers, Jaz and Max.

There will be no services, and in lieu of flowers, friends could make a memorial donation to one of David's favorite charities: Boys Town www.boystown.org" target="_blank">(www.boystown.org), the Shriners Hospitals for Children http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate" target="_blank">(http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate), or the Erie Humane Society http://www.humanesocietyofnwpa.com/donate" target="_blank">(http://www.humanesocietyofnwpa.com/donate).

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