The Reverend Dr. Cynthia L. Engle, former Rector of St. Francis of
Assisi Episcopal Church in Prairie View passed away on July 2, 2022 at
her home in Cypress, Texas. Her two children, Brian and Christine was
by her side as they had been following her health failings beginning in
Summer of 2021.
Funeral service for Reverend Engle is set for
July 20 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 414 E McAlpine St,
Navasota, TX 77868 - (936) 825-7726. Condolences may be sent to: The
Family of Cynthia Engle, P. O. Box 2309, Cypress, TX 77410-2309.
Reverend
served as Rector of St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church from July 1,
2011 to August 31, 2019. She previously served a two-year stint as
Deacon and Priest with St. Mark's in Beaumont, where she covered all
aspects of Parish Ministry and the implementation of Stephen Ministry.
Engle
also served as Rector of St. Paul’s Navasota, concurrently with St.
Francis. As rector for both churches, Engle brought her experiences in
virtually every aspect of Church life, including officiating, preaching,
music ministry, worship leadership, altar guild, Lay Eucharistic
Ministry, acolytes, cross-cultural outreach with international
communities in USA and England working with the homeless, hospital and
chaplaincy. The members benefited from the rich experiences which
broadened their commitment to being servants of Christ to the
communities at large. Reverend Engle is remembered for her true love of
the animals in tribute to the Patron Saint Francis of Assisi. She
looked forward to the blessings of the animals that was also extended to
stuffed animals that the children would bring to the event.
She
began her professional career as a music teacher in Cypress Fairbanks
Independent School District and completed stints with the Corpus Christi
Independent School District, Corpus Christi and Incarnate Word Academy
in Corpus Christi. Her other experiences include serving as an Adjunct
Professor of Old Testament at the Fuller Theological Seminary Regional
Campuses (Texas, California, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona); Tutorial
supervisions in Hebrew grammar and text, Cambridge, UK; Teaching
Assistant, Old Testament and Greek tutorials, Trinity School for
Ministry, Ambridge, PA, teaching at the Philharmonic Summer Workshops in
Laredo. Her other experiences include stints with the Arizona Health
Care Cost Containment Service in Phoenix, AZ and the Bethlehem Haven
Shelter for Women in Pittsburgh, PA.
Reverend Engle’s service in
the ministry began in 1996 in Arizona where she served as Director for
Ioize Worship Group in the Diocese of Arizona, followed with services as
a Volunteer Lay Chaplain with St. Luke's Medical Center in Phoenix,
Pastoral Assistant, Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church, Cave
Creek, Director of Christian Education, Christ Church of the Ascension
and Deacon, Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
She also completed medical missions to Diocese of Honduras, Central
America.
In 2008, Reverend Engle returned to Texas and was
ordained a Deacon in December 2008 in the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
She received her ordination in December 2009.
Engle holds the
Bachelor of Music from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, Master
of Divinity from Trinity School for Ministry, Ambridge, PA and the Ph.D.
in Old Testament from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
and certificates in continuing education in Hebrew Reading from Fuller
Seminary Southwest and Languages from Phoenix College in Phoenix,
Arizona.
She is the recipient of many awards including academic
grants and scholarships from Trinity in Cambridge and Selwyn College and
Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, Fuller Seminary Southwest
and Mercer, the Board of Women Graduates and the Outstanding Greek
Award from Trinity School for Ministry.
As a musician, she’s
enjoyed a lifelong and ongoing freelance musical performances with Music
Societies at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, the Mesa
Symphony, Mesa, AZ, Symphony North Houston, Corpus Christi Symphony, the
Laredo Philharmonic and the Prairie View A&M University Symphonic
Band.
Engle was born in Waco and grew up in Houston. She has a
son Brian, who taught gymnastics and daughters Christine, a stylist and
theatre director, and a foster daughter Heather Ryland, an artist.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.waltripfuneraldirectors.com for the Engle family.
