Dave and Dolores Engle and their daughters.
Coupeville lost one of its most-loved community members with the passing of Pastor Dave Engle this weekend.
His quiet impact on those around him will not be forgotten, however.
From the family:
David Charles Engle of Coupeville passed away in Bothell, WA on November 29th, 2024, surrounded by his family.
David was born on August 12th, 1937, in Anacortes, Washington.
As the oldest child of Burton and Verna Engle, David grew up in the town of Coupeville.
He was part of the high school tennis team, as well as president of the yearbook club where he developed his love for photojournalism.
He graduated from Coupeville High School in 1955 and attended Seattle Pacific College, graduating in 1959 with a degree in History and a teaching certificate.
Two weeks later, Dave married his high school sweetheart, Dolores Harper, in Coupeville on June 20th, 1959. They began married life in Puyallup, WA where Dave started his teaching career.
In 1968, Dave and Dolores moved back to Coupeville where Dave worked as a reading teacher in Oak Harbor, Reading Specialist at Camp Casey, and as the President of the Coupeville School Board.
In 1976, they moved to Anaheim, CA as evidence of Dave fully committing his life to Christ – giving up his dream of teaching for the true call he had felt as a 12-year-old boy – to become a pastor.
He attended Fuller Theological Seminary and achieved a master’s in divinity.
Dave served as associate pastor of Plaza Bible Foursquare Church in Orange, CA for 14 years.
In 1992, the Lord called them back to Coupeville where he was the head pastor at Living Hope Foursquare until 1998.
Dave was a substitute teacher in Oak Harbor in the nineties until taking a full-time position at Clover Valley Elementary.
He maintained his love of teaching during these years and his energy and passion for learning influenced many students!
They lived in Coupeville until the end of 2020 when they came to live with their daughters in Bothell.
Wherever he lived, Dave was very involved with the church and community — faithfully organizing small groups, dinners, missionary events, prayer groups to pray for our community, state, country, and world (but reminding people not to pray too long over food — it will get cold, you know).
He baptized, officiated weddings and funerals, and was always on call to go to the hospital at a moment’s notice to pray with those in need.
Retirement was not in his vocabulary as he kept busy by going to the gym, Rabbit-Rabbiting anyone and everyone (haha!), attending Coupeville, Orange Lutheran, and Cedar Park Christian events, cheering on grandkids at little league games in Bothell, donating/volunteering/supporting at local theater events, and also keeping up with friends from near and far through phone calls, letters, or notes.
Even as his body failed him, Dave’s delight in being around his family and interacting with his grandchildren created bright and lasting memories in his final days.
Dave’s life was defined by a deep faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and he shared His love with everyone he met.
Dave was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores, his parents, Verna (Dremolski) and Burton Engle, his brothers, Roger, Paul, and Ralph.
David is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Sylvia (Engle) and Garrett Arnold, Shannon (Engle) and Lance Arnold, Stephanie (Engle) and Isaiah Penrod, and Sarah (Engle) and Tim Viers.
Also, ten grandchildren, Scott Arnold, Courtney (Arnold) and Kaden Sleister, Brett and Sabrina (Pung) Arnold, Luke and Brooke (Ellis) Arnold, Jacob Arnold, Victoria Penrod, Andrew Penrod, Noelle Viers, Lyal Viers, Reagan Viers.
And six great-grandchildren, Maddison Arnold, Maximus Sleister, Maverick Sleister, Annabelle Arnold, Johanna Arnold, and Jensen Arnold; brother, Daniel Engle; and nephews and nieces.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 14th, 2024, at First Reformed Church of Oak Harbor at 11:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dave’s honor at gideons.org
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