Joseph H. "Joe" Engle

Joseph H. Engle, recently of Springfield, Ohio, went to heaven August 23, 2014. He was born in the city of Grantham, Pennsylvania on March 1, 1931. Joseph or "Joe" met June Hostetter, his future wife, at Messiah College while she was studying to be an elementary teacher. After graduating from Temple University School of Medicine near Philadelphia, PA, he studied orthopedic surgery at Geisinger Medical Center in the small city of Danville, PA. For nearly thirty years he worked as a physician, mostly in orthopedic surgery.

Joe has left many fond memories to share among family and friends. Grandchildren (and others) remember summer fishing trips to Michigan, vacations in Maine, and canoe trips. He played a mean Ping-Pong game. Hiking and hunting Pennsylvania Mountains were favorite activities. And laying a 7-letter word in Scrabble gave him great pleasure. Many people's lives have been directly influenced by Joe and June's generosity in helping others reach their goals, especially in education and home purchases.

The most important thing in Joe's life was his relationship to God. He spent many hours studying the Bible and praying. His (and June's) prayers have has a lasting impact on the lives of others. Twice he took his family to Africa as a medical missionary.

Joe is survived by June, his wife of 63 years, and their six daughters and their families: Jeanne Pitto of Indiana, Joan Gonzalez in Texas, and Karen Smith in Colorado, and three in Ohio: Jewel Pisarsky, Linda Suter, and JoEllen Stringer. His sister, Verna Bankert, and her family also survive him.

A celebration of Joe's life will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, August 27, at the Oliver-Floyd Funeral Home, 1000 N. Broadway St., Greenville, OH, with Pastor Eric Knight officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenville Union Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that memorial contributions be given to Youth with a Mission, designated note to Ross and Mindy Smith grandchildren.