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Posts Tagged ‘Dave Engle’

When you’re here, you’re family

Posted in Football, tagged , , , , , on September 23, 2025| 1 Comment »

Cedar Park Christian football captains Andy Penrod (left) and Lyal Viers return to the prairie of their ancestors Friday night. (Photo courtesy Sarah Viers)

It’s a homecoming in more ways than one.

When Coupeville High School football welcomes Cedar Park Christian-Bothell to town this Friday night, the Wolves will be celebrating their Homecoming with a capital H.

Royalty will be honored at halftime (we assume), with the game and festivities the lead-in to Saturday’s dance.

But two of Coupeville’s rivals Friday will be making a homecoming of their own.

That’s because Cedar Park senior captains Lyal Viers and Andy Penrod are prairie princes, even if they don’t live in Cow Town.

The cousins are the sons of sisters Sarah and Stephanie Engle, respectively, and Andy’s dad is Videoville alumni Isaiah Penrod.

Grandparents include the “Dave’s” — former Coupeville Town Marshal Dave Penrod and the late, great Pastor Dave Engle, AKA the nicest human being I’ve ever met.

Go back through the pages of history, and Lyal and Andy are part of the seventh generation of their family to have a connection to Coupeville.

Now, would I prefer they be wearing the red and black Friday night, as their cousin Brett Arnold did back in the day when he was tearing off chunks of yardage as a Wolf running back?

Of course I do. This blog isn’t called “CPC Sports,” after all…

But I understand family members often end up in different parts of the world, for many different reasons, and yet are still family.

CPC-Bothell is a quality school, and while I don’t want the Eagles to beat the Wolves, I can tip my hat (from all the way out in West Virginia) and wish the young Mr. Penrod and Mr. Viers the best.

Regardless of which uniform they rep under Friday night lights, the two of them will always be bound to the prairie and always welcome in Cow Town.

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“Dave’s life was defined by a deep faith”

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , , on December 3, 2024| Leave a Comment »

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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He was a gentleman in every way

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , , on November 30, 2024| 3 Comments »

Dave and Delores Engle

Dave Engle was a gentleman.

I say that with the highest praise, for over the years, I found him to be perhaps the kindest human being I have ever met in Coupeville.

I never stepped foot into his Living Hope Foursquare Church or listened to any of his sermons, though I know he had a hugely positive impact on many in the community he served.

Instead, my meetings with Pastor Dave, who passed away Friday, came at Videoville, at numerous Coupeville sports events over the years, and when we passed in the crowded aisles at Prairie Center.

Every single time, without fail, he had a smile for me, a few words of warmth and welcoming, and left me in a better mood.

Over the years, whether operating in tandem with his beloved wife of 60+ years, Delores, or off on a solo adventure, he never failed to make our interactions pleasant ones.

He was a man of deep faith, one who lived by his beliefs, but never came across as judgmental in my opinion.

Pastor Dave lived each day with kindness and love for others in his heart, something he passed on to his own children and grandchildren.

But the thing is, he treated each of us, whether we were related to him by blood or not, with that same care.

Whether we were part of his flock, or not, he showed genuine compassion, respect, and care for all.

He was a gentleman in every way, and I am glad our paths crossed.

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Our friend, forever

Posted in In memory, tagged , , , , , , on February 10, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Dolores and Dave Engle. (All photos courtesy Engle family)

Dolores Engle was my friend.

And, if she knew you, she was your friend, too, because she had the kind of heart and soul where she made friends fast and kept them forever.

She and her husband Dave, who’s pretty darn friendly himself, have had an immeasurable impact on our community over the years.

When I inducted the duo into the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame, they went in as the “Mom and Dad of Wolf Nation,” and the description fits perfectly.

Dolores will be greatly missed, but her deeds, her rock-solid belief in her faith, and her enduring kindness remain.

She was our friend, and will always be.

 

From her family:

Dolores Leilani (Harper) Engle of Coupeville passed away in Bothell, WA on February 5, 2021, surrounded by her family.

Dolores was born on December 18, 1938 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

As the oldest child of a Navy family, she moved many times in her early life — including Texas, Virginia, Rhode Island, Florida, and California — before moving to Coupeville in 1951.

She was part of the high school drill team, as well as many other clubs.

She graduated from Coupeville High School in 1956 and moved to help on her parents’ farm in Eltopia, WA, where she also attended business college and worked at the Water District Farm Bureau Office.

Dolores and David Engle were married in Coupeville on June 20th, 1959.

They began married life in Puyallup, WA, where Dolores worked for a car dealership and school district, the first of many bookkeeping and office manager jobs throughout her career.

In 1968, Dolores and Dave moved back to Coupeville, where she worked at Dean’s Chevrolet, right across from Prairie Center.

In 1976 they moved to Anaheim, CA, where she entered full-time ministry as a pastor’s wife and church secretary at Plaza Bible Church.

In 1992, they moved back to Coupeville, where they have lived ever since.

Wherever she lived, Dolores was always very involved with the church — teaching Sunday school and Bible study, organizing children’s church and church bulletin boards, running the snack distribution at Vacation Bible School, as well as singing in various choirs, including the Billy Graham crusade choirs.

Dolores was known for her gentleness and big hugs, and her signature greeting, “Good Morning,” regardless of the time of day.

She was an accomplished and creative seamstress who was able to create made to order wedding, prom, homecoming and other formal dresses.

Not only could she sew, but she also crocheted intricate patterns into doilies, cross-stitched tapestries, knitted baby blankets and sweaters, and could make any costume requested out of home-goods on hand.

Dolores made these vintage cheerleader skirts for athletes coached by her daughter Sylvia.

Dolores was a voting poll site coordinator/registrar and loved volunteering her time to help secure voting booths.

She made family dinners and church potlucks festive with pies, banana and zucchini breads, snickerdoodles, casseroles, and her signature blackberry jam for rolls, along with her gigantic, yummy salads.

She loved reading, puzzles, crosswords, and word searches.

Dolores was quite mechanically-minded and able to fix or build most projects. The kids all knew to ask Mom — not Dad — for help when building all things!

Dolores enjoyed traveling to see family each summer — to take care of new-born grandchildren, see the Holy Lands in Israel, explore the state of Alaska, have tea in London and see the crown jewels; and to Disneyland (countless times) with all of her grandkids, where she patiently volunteered to take the youngest (whomever it was at that time) on their favorite ride over and over while the older children raced around.

Grandma always had time for her grandbabies.

Retirement was not in her vocabulary as she kept busy making breakfast for the worship team (French toast casserole, anyone?), last minute alterations for anyone in sewing distress, caring for grandchildren by babysitting or driving them to and from activities, taking lead on Dave’s recoveries from various surgeries, maintaining household chores, attending Coupeville and Orange Lutheran High School 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 dementia progressed, and Alzheimer’s took hold, Dolores’s delight in being around her family and interacting with her grandchildren created bright and lasting memories in her final days.

Dolores’s life was defined by a deep faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she shared his love with everyone she met.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Jewel (Johnston) Harper and her brothers, Curtis and Charles.

Dolores is survived by her husband, David Engle; daughters, Sylvia (Engle) Arnold, Shannon (Engle) Arnold, Stephanie (Engle) Penrod and Sarah (Engle) Viers; sons-in-law, Garrett Arnold, Lance Arnold, Isaiah Penrod, and Tim Viers; ten grandchildren, Scott Arnold, Courtney (Arnold) Sleister, Brett Arnold, Luke Arnold, Jacob Arnold, Victoria Penrod, Andrew Penrod, Noelle Viers, Lyal Viers, and Reagan Viers; two great-grandchildren, Maddison Arnold and Maximus Sleister (and another baby girl expected in April); sister, Pamela Blevins; and sister-in-law, Charlotte Harper; and numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held privately due to pandemic restrictions.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project: woundedwarriorproject.org or The Gideons International: gideons.org.

The Mom and Dad of Wolf Nation, with their real-life daughters.

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New year, old favorites!!

Posted in Hall o' Fame, tagged , , , , , , on January 1, 2017| Leave a Comment »

Cole

   Chris Tumblin (top left, in shades) is joined by (clockwise) Dolores and Dave Engle and Cole and Morgan Payne.

Let the fireworks explode.

We’re kicking off 2017 with a robust group of inductees as we welcome the 80th class into the Coupeville Sports Hall of Fame.

Two brothers who were quiet warriors through good times and bad, the unofficial mom and dad of Wolf Nation and the only local coach to have won a state title all come together for this landmark New Years Day induction.

So, with that, we welcome Dolores and Dave Engle, Morgan and Cole Payne and Chris “Rumblin” Tumblin to our little digital wonderland.

After this you’ll find the five-pack up at the top of the blog, under the Legends tab.

We’re kicking things off with the Engles, who are among the most faithful, and good-natured, Wolf fans in all the land.

If there’s a fundraiser, the duo are there to support it.

If there’s a game, they will be in the stands, especially if one of their many children or grandchildren are involved.

And yet, it’s pretty safe to say that Dolores and Dave view everyone in town as their unofficial family, and treat everyone with a rare kindness, whether related by blood or not.

Over the course of Coupeville Sports 52-month run, they have been as supportive of my work as anyone, and their quiet words of praise, always delivered with a smile, have meant a great deal to me.

Especially since it has come from two people who I have a great deal of respect for myself.

The idea of inducting Dave Engle sprang from former CHS football coach Tony Maggio, but I knew Dave needed to go in alongside his wife.

It is truly a thrill to honor Mr. and Mrs. Engle, for all that they have done for our school and town and for simply putting a smile on all of our faces every day.

Joining them in the Hall are the Payne brothers, who, as much as any athletes I have covered, exemplify putting hard work, dedication and love of team ahead of personal accomplishment.

Morgan was a standout basketball and baseball player, a blue collar guy on the hard-court and a hit machine with a slick glove on the diamond.

He was a key member of the 2010 Central Whidbey Little League junior baseball squad that won a state title (under the guidance of Tumblin) and went on to craft a stellar high school career.

The elder Payne brother didn’t waste much time talking when it was time to play, but his actions spoke loud enough to be heard all across the prairie.

Of all his many accomplishments, my favorite will always be the day he dashed home from second, sliding through a wall of half-frozen mud to lift CHS to a wild, come-from-behind extra innings win over Nooksack Valley.

That afternoon was the most brutal affair I have endured on the prairie (and yes, I was stupidly wearing shorts…), full of howling wind, cold, slicing rain and an improbable 9-8 Wolf win.

As Morgan slid past the tag and whacked his hand on the plate, it signaled more than a victory.

It meant the seven fans still in attendance after four ungodly hours of frozen Hell were free, free at last, thank God almighty. Morgan Payne — my hero, always.

His younger brother was more talkative (at least in public), a slick-talkin’, fast-walkin’, big-game-winnin’ supernova who overcame 22,089 injuries to shine as a football, tennis and baseball star.

Cole was a missile on the gridiron, launching himself airborne in a mad quest to separate ball carrier from ball, and it was that wild man attitude that may have cost him a chunk of his prep career.

He was a superb hoops player who never got to play for CHS, as frequent football injuries conspired to prevent him from pulling on a basketball jersey.

Payne made up for it by bringing his A-game to the diamond, where he capped his career by earning 1A Olympic League MVP honors last spring.

It was a fitting tribute to the slugging catcher who led Coupeville to its first baseball league crown since 1990.

Our final inductee, Tumblin, is already in the Hall as a contributor, for a superb string of quotes. Today, though, he gets the big call-up, honored for his work as a baseball coach.

Many know him for his years as Willie Smith’s right hand man in the dugout at CHS, but it’s hard to top being a state champ.

Pulling together a rag-tag bunch of youngsters (OK, they were actually pretty talented and formed the core of Coupeville baseball for years to come), Tumblin shocked the little league world in 2010.

While many of Central Whidbey’s foes drew from much larger regions, allowing them to have true all-star teams, the prairie diamond men never flinched, pulling off one come-from-behind win after another.

Through it all, the man who kept the future Wolves on point was the laid-back EMT with the sly wit, a man who knew when to praise and when to prod his young charges.

Whether Central Whidbey was stumblin’ or rumblin’ that year, they couldn’t have had a better coach than Tumblin.

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