Obituary of Esther M. Engle

Esther M. Engle, 89, of Brethren Village, Lancaster, PA, formerly of Middletown and Palmyra PA, peacefully went home to heaven at Brethren Village on Saturday afternoon, October 6, 2012, following a brief illness. Born in Lebanon County, PA, she was the daughter of the late Hoffer and Fannie Gingrich Reesor. She was the wife of the late Vincent N. "Vince" Engle who died in 2007. They were married for 50 years. Esther was a member of Chiques Church of the Brethren in Manheim, PA, where she taught children's Sunday school. She was a former member of Stevens Hill Church of the Brethren in Elizabethtown, PA. She was a homemaker in every aspect of her life, including gardening, preserving food, caring for her family and home, and baking pies for many occasions. In her early years, she was employed by Dan Baum, former owner of Baum's Bologna, in Elizabethtown and was involved in leading homemaking activities with the 4H Club. Her nurturing nature provides a role model for her family. She is survived by a daughter, Ellen J. Heath of Hershey, PA; three grandchildren, Darreth, wife of Matthew Eckert, of Middletown, Stephen Engle, Jr. of Freemont, CA, and Matthew, husband of Eve Tillman, of Ephrata, PA; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandson; and six siblings, Effie, wife of James Brandt, of Mount Joy, PA, Helen, wife of Mahlon Messick, of Middletown, Clayton Reesor of Elizabethtown, Howard, husband of Ruth Reesor, of Palmyra, Elmer Reesor of White Rock, British Columbia, and Martha Miller of Lititz, PA. She was preceded in death by a son, Stephen Engle, in 1980. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday afternoon, October 10, 2012 at 3:30 pm at the Chapel at Brethren Village, 3001 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA 17606 with Chaplain Dana Statler and Pastor Norman Yeater officiating. Interment will be in Hillsdale Cemetery, Middletown. The family will receive guests at Brethren Village on Wednesday afternoon from 2:30 pm until the time of the service. The family requests that flowers please be omitted. If desired, contributions may be made to Hospice and Community Care, 685 Good Drive, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604 or to the Good Samaritan Fund at Brethren Village. To express a condolence with the family or for additional information, visit www.spencefuneralservices.com.