He was born on January 16, 1928, in Peoria, to Orville Lavern and Naomi Ruth (Tracy) Engle, the oldest of eight children. At age 14, he moved with his family to Thackery. As a young man he worked in the oil fields in Illinois and Kentucky. He was in the Army from 1946 to 1948.

He married Jessie Verdean Allen on June 16, 1946, in Thackery.

Mr. Engle worked as a farm hand in Iowa and Missouri. He was a mechanic and worked in several different garages. He later was a truck driver for 20 years before his retirement. For the last 18 years, he and his wife lived in Rich Hill.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Wanda Russell, Butler, Missouri, Tommy Sicord and husband Sam, White Pigeon, Michigan; two sons, Rickey Engle and Jimmy Engle and wife Lori of Tucson, Arizonia; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers, Robert Engle, Texas, Orville Engle, St. Louis, and George Engle, Thackeray; three sisters, Ruth Engle, Florida, Nedra Barns, Paducah, Kentucky, and Edith Garrison, McLeansboro; nieces, nephews and one cousin.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Virginia Lee Engle and two grandchildren.