Thomas W. Deter

Thomas W. Deter, age 84, of Baden, passed away on Saturday, September 6, 2025.
Born May 25, 1941, in Johnstown, he was the son of the late William and Margaret (McCombie) Deter.
Tom grew up in Johnstown in a rowhouse on Kennedy Avenue. His dad, Bill, worked for Bethlehem Steel and his mom, Marge, was always cooking for people, whether in the school cafeteria or for a time in Deter's Restaurant. He had one sibling, his younger sister Kathy, who proceeded him in death. He graduated from Johnstown Catholic High School and enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus with an eye on what opportunities might lie outside of his hometown. He had spent vacations visiting aunts and an uncle living in California, and he considered enrolling at UCLA, but ultimately he ended up at Pitt's main campus.
It was around this time that he met Leah, who had grown up in a big family on a farm near Ebensburg and had recently moved to Pittsburgh for school and work. The city kid from a small family learned about "fresh milk", baling hay, and getting his car out of snow drifts, and he showed them new things like Bermuda shorts and loafers-much ribbing ensued and much family lore was written. He managed to win them all over, which is no surprise to anyone who knew him.
He and Leah were married in 1965. After a couple of years with 84 Lumber, he moved on to JCPenney. As his career was taking off, he and Leah welcomed two daughters, first Michele and then Lisa. He moved up through various store management, district staff, and regional staff positions, with each new promotion seeing the family relocate to places in Ohio, Indiana, upstate New York, and Michigan. His last transfer brought them back to Pittsburgh again, where he retired in 1996.
He took a part-time job with Mannheim Auto Auction a couple of years later. He had always been a car guy, so the environment was a natural fit. He first worked on the lot to move cars, and later as a van driver to shuttle other drivers around the area. After a few years Leah joined him at Mannheim, eventually riding with him on the van a couple of days each week. They stayed there until COVID closed the auction.
A year or so before COVID, Tom had been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The disease's progression was unknown and treatment options limited. He took it all in stride and continued to live his life as usual, making accommodations for his diminishing mobility without complaining.
Tom was well-known for his sense of humor. It drew people to him, and he made friends and connections wherever he went. In his career, he was known as a considerate and fair manager, and the people he worked with at JCPenney were always sorry to see him move on. At Mannheim, it didn't take him long to establish his own crew of regulars for his van.
Outside of work, Tom spent many hours in his garage, fixing his cars and anything else around the house that needed repairing. Over the years he enjoyed activities like golfing, bowling, and racquetball.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 60 years, Leah Deter; his children, Michele (Michael) Essman and Lisa (Scott) McCray; and his four grandchildren, Teagan, Iris, Jocelyn and Helena, as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews from both sides of his family, and many local friends.
He would want us all to tell the silly stories, smile at the happy memories, and think of him when we laugh at a ridiculous dad joke or deliver the perfect comeback line.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. at Boylan-Glenn-Kildoo Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., 130 Wisconsin Ave., Cranberry Twp., PA 16066.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in Tom's memory at https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/PFFTribute/TomDeter. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas, please visit our floral store.