Phillip L. Engle

Phillip L. Engle, 71, of Youngwood, died Sunday, November 18, 2018 in Westmoreland Manor, Greensburg.  He was born July 15, 1947 in Chicago, Ill., a son of the late Jesse Bryce and Earle Jeane (Suits) Engle.  Prior to retirement he had been employed by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.  He was a member of St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Greensburg.  Phillip studied speech and theater at Northwestern University.  He then went on to do his Master’s thesis on “Group Subjectivity” at Union Theological Seminary, an interest which led to his adherence to theories of Rene Girard, with whom he enjoyed brief correspondence.  He authored several books on general science, scapegoat theology, evolution and philosophy through his imprint, Laurel Highlands Media.  He shared an interest in performance magic with his artistic idol Orson Welles.  He also belonged to the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Oblates of St. Benedict at St. Vincent Archabbey.  Phillip is survived by his wife, Nancy J. (Thompson) Engle; four sons, David Sweeny, of Houston, TX, Jonathan Engle (Ekaterina), of Oakland Park, Fla., Christopher Joel Engle, of Youngwood, and Pascal Isaiah Engle, of Pittsburgh; three daughters, Tamara Rachel Engle Miller (Jason Gruner), of Wheaton, Ill., Anina Marielle Engle Palangio (Mark Richard), of San Bruno, Calif., and Maribeth Rose Engle Dumbaugh (Christopher Patrick), of Irwin; nine grandchildren; and his sister, Jane Hornor Engle and wife Wesla Bay Weller, of Culver City, Calif.  Friends will be received from 4 to 8 PM Friday at the LEO M. BACHA FUNERAL HOME, INC., 516 Stanton Street, Greensburg.  A funeral service will begin at 9:30 AM Saturday in the funeral home.  Interment will follow in St. Vincent Cemetery, Latrobe.  www.bachafh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phillip L. Engle, please visit our floral store.