Mr. James Edward Engle

James "Jim" Edward Engle, age 91, of Dallas, GA, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025, with his son and full-time caretaker, Mark, by his side.
Jim was born on September 26, 1933, in Redondo Beach, California, to James and Esther Engle. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950 and served honorably as a hospital corpsman for 3 years, 6 months, and 27 days, stationed in Hawaii and Japan. After his military service, he pursued his love of the performing arts by attending a Theater Arts college in California.
Jim's early career began in sales in New Orleans, where he worked with a high school friend selling cookware. He later sold Grolier Encyclopedias to schools and colleges and went on to work for Newsweek. While he found success in these ventures, his heart was always in the theater and film industry-his true passion.
That passion eventually led him to roles at Twentieth Century Fox in New York and Warner Brothers in Boston, Massachusetts. Jim later founded his own independent film distribution company, Regal Films, and opened a movie theater in Connecticut.
Jim was also a gifted performer. While raising his family in Wellesley, MA, he was a dedicated member of the Wellesley Players community theater group for many years. He loved acting and singing, and his favorite performer was Frank Sinatra. Jim often sang You Make Me Feel So Young at family gatherings and events, including at his 91st birthday celebration.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Susan Zambito Engle; his sister, Marge Hinzo; and his niece, Josephine Dahilig.
He is survived by his second wife of 14 years, Margaret Drescher Engle; his children, Jim Engle, John Engle, Jeanne Engle Deubel, and Mark Engle; his grandchildren, Kristina Engle DeAndrade (Carlos), Sean Engle, Emily Deubel (Jordan Burton), and Oliver Fahrenheit; and his great-grandson, Lorenzo DeAndrade. He is also survived by his sister, Louise Dahilig (Richard), and many loving nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Wednesday September 10, 2025,. at Benson Funeral Home from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M., followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00 P.M. Interment will take place at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA, where Jim will be laid to rest beside his beloved Susan.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/ in Jim's memory.
Benson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. James Edward Engle.