Richard A. Engle

1931 - 2022

Richard A. Engle, of Newmanstown, passed away at the age of 91 at his son’s home in Reading, PA on Thursday, July 28th. Husband of the late Lillian Bennetch Engle, he was born in Stricklerstown, PA on June 29, 1931, the youngest of 4 children of the late George & Agnes Engle. He attended Newmanstown High School and from an early age he fell in love with baseball, music, and the young & lovely Lillian Bennetch. He played trumpet in the Newmanstown High School band and played baseball on the high school team and American Legion teams and softball in the competitive church league. He started higher education at Millersville University intending to become a teacher, but as the conflict in Korea arose, he realized he would be called to serve, so he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was recruited for his musical talent and went to boot camp at Parris Island. He was then sent on to Korea in January of 1952. He served in Korea until late December 1952. Upon his return to the States, he married his high school sweetheart Lil on January 3rd, 1953, at St. Paul’s UCC in Schaefferstown, and they moved to Cherry Point in Bern, North Carolina. He received an honorable discharge in March of 1954 and settled with his wife and new baby Debbie in Newmanstown. Rich & Lil later added 3 more children, John (1959), David (1961), and finally quit when they got the best one when Judy arrived in 1963. Rich loved his family, and they spent many happy summers camping together with their dear friends in the Bosold family. Tragedy struck in 1968 when their son John died suddenly in the summer, but their faith, church and family helped them to heal and kept them going. They started a new tradition of traveling for vacation to Ocean City, Maryland, and enjoyed beach time and seafood along the shore. Many happy weeks were spent there with friends and family. Rich supported his kids in everything they did – music, sports, and other activities. Together they attended every band competition, field hockey/basketball/baseball games, and every concert in which their kids participated. Once grandchildren came along, Pop & Gram were there for them in the same way. He had a great work ethic and expected the same from his children, and they never could skip practice or summer jobs if they had committed to them. He was a New York Yankee fan since boyhood and loved Mickey Mantle. His father instilled a love of baseball early, and he attended his first Major League game in 1937, taking the train from Myerstown to Shibe Park in Philadelphia to see a Philadelphia Athletics game. One of the highlights for Rich was attending several World Series games in the 1950’s to watch his beloved Yankees in NYC. He also umpired and later served for over 30 years as an Assistant Coach for the Richland American Legion baseball team alongside long-time coach and baseball legend Lyle Krall. He & Lil traveled to spring training in Florida for several years and once met the late George Steinbrenner. Rich’s love of music didn’t stop with the trumpet. He sang bass in choir and later joined the Lebanon Singing Cedars Barbershop chorus in the late 1950s. Later he formed a quartet called Them There Guys with Dean Kahl, Lenny Ontkos, and Ed Zidik, and they enjoyed performing at shows and competitions. They won the Division Championship in 1973 and were a popular group who traveled and sang throughout the MidAtlantic states. Rich later joined another quartet called the Cross County Connection, performing at shows and delivering singing Valentines throughout their years together. Rich and Lil socialized often with their friends in the Barbershop groups throughout their lives. Rich was also a man of faith, and he was a founding member of Millcreek Lutheran Church in Newmanstown in 1967. He served on the Church Council and sang in his church choir for 75 years in every church he attended. They raised their children in the church, where his eldest daughter Debra serves as the Music Director and organist today, and his son David serves on Church Council. Rich’s faith got him through many tough times, including when his dear wife Lil battled Parkinson’s disease. He became her caregiver, her cheerleader, and her advocate for medical care. This tough old Marine learned to fix her hair, help her with her jewelry, and was with her every step of the way as he endured several serious medical issues in addition to her Parkinson’s. When she was hospitalized, he was by her side every day until the end in 2006. Rich appreciated all the care she received while in Reading Hospital and often brought the ICU nurses trays of cookies or boxes of candy during her stay there. He knew them all by name and made sure they knew how grateful he was for their care of his sweetheart. Rich was a hard worker, and worked in many industries, including the insurance business, Bethlehem Steel, and even helped to build the Pennsylvania Turnpike. He later worked for Kountry Kraft Kitchens and as a Sales Rep for A&H Industries in Myerstown, from which he retired at the age of 79. He also volunteered in the community, serving on the Millcreek Township Water Board for many years. After retirement, he volunteered at Myerstown Elementary school, tutoring children in math, which helped to fulfill his lifelong dream to teach from many years before. The young students loved Mr. Engle and wrote him lovely Valentines and thank you cards every year. From an early age, Rich was an animal lover, and his family always included dogs. In his sales travels, he always kept dog treats in his van to give to the client’s pups and bonded with every pup he ever met. In recent years, he adopted a beautiful black cat named Daisy, who has been a faithful companion to him and who will be cared for by his family for the rest of her life. When his daughter Judy went to Penn State, he and Lil started attending Penn State football games and established a tailgating tradition that lives on through Judy and her friends today. He got season tickets in 1987 and attended every home game through the 1999 season. Regardless of the weather, they were there, breaking out the little grill and putting out a spread for everyone. He even attended the infamous Snow Bowl of 1995. He loved meeting his kids’ friends, and many adopted him as a second father along the way. He also enjoyed attending baseball games, both MLB and minor league games, and he celebrated a recent birthday at the Reading Phillies game with his family. He enjoyed concerts of all kinds, musical theater, and of course, singing every chance he got. Rich never met a stranger. He connected with people everywhere – servers at restaurants, people on the street, anyone he met in his travels. He had the gift of gab and enjoyed going to breakfast with his buddies in recent years. He was blessed with many friends. He lived on his own until just before his 91st birthday in June, and his family was blessed to have him as long as they did. Richard is survived by three of his children, Debra Tice (Thomas) of Jonestown, David Engle (Ann Marie) of Reading, and Judy Engle Seely (Randy) of York, PA; and grandchildren Joseph Tice (Ashley), Nathan Tice, & Matthew Engle; and great-grandchildren Sierra Tice, Joseph Tice, Jr., and Joshua Tice. His was predeceased by his son John, his wife Lillian, and his brother Russell and sisters Pearl & Margie. Funeral services for Richard will be held on Saturday, August 6th, 2022. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM at Millcreek Lutheran Church 221 N Sheridan Rd, Newmanstown, PA 17073, with the service at 11 AM. Rich was very proud of his military service & will be buried at Millcreek Cemetery immediately after the service with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Millcreek Lutheran Church or the Humane Society of Lebanon County. Arrangements are in the care of Grose Funeral Home Inc. GroseFH.com