Darl L. Etter

Darl Etter, 70, of Grandy, NC, passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026. Darl was born and raised in the Chambersburg, Pennsylvania area, where he grew up on a dairy farm. He carried that hardworking, hands-on mindset throughout his life. He built a long career as a diesel technician, working as a mechanic for over 40 years, where his natural mechanical ability and sharp problem-solving skills set him apart. He was the kind of person who could fix almost anything—and if something didn’t have instructions, he didn’t need them.

His curiosity and technical mind extended far beyond his work. Whether it was working on vehicles, building intricate cuckoo clocks from scratch, or figuring out how things worked just for the fun of it, Darl approached the world with both intelligence and humor. He had a way of seeing things differently, often finding the fun in doing things “the wrong way,” and sharing that perspective with others through his storytelling and laughter.

Darl also had a deep love for dogs, and they were always an important part of his life. He appreciated simple joys, whether that meant spending time with animals or enjoying good food—especially anything with heat. He had a remarkable tolerance for spicy foods and could handle peppers like nobody else.

Darl is survived by his wife, Marie Etter; his daughter, Hannah Etter and her husband Mark; step-daughter Sherry Cutler and Brian; and two grandchildren Kiley and Cobe; his siblings, Alan, Melanie, and Barb. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Lynn and Mary Etter.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 11:00am at Laurel Memorial Gardens in Poplar Branch, North Carolina. Please share a message of comfort with the family at gallopfuneralservices.com. Gallop Funeral Services was entrusted with arrangements