Robert C. Engle, 88, a resident of Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chambersburg, and formerly of 5765 Manheim Road and 500 W. Main St., both of Waynesboro, died at 2:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 17, 2009, in the nursing home. He had been in failing health for the past two months. Born Oct. 4, 1920, in Waynesboro, he was the son of the late Grover S. and Ruth A. (Coffman) Engle. He lived most of his life in the Waynesboro area.

His wife, Sylvia J. (Embly) Engle, died Dec. 30, 2006. They lived at 500 West Main St., Waynesboro, until a fire destroyed their home in 2003. They moved to Manheim Road following the fire. Mr. Engle entered the nursing home Jan. 8, 2009.

Mr. Engle was a 1938 graduate of the former Hershey Industrial School, now the Milton S. Hershey School. He later studied as an apprentice in the pottery trade in Trenton, N.J. He served with the U.S. Marines for two tours during World War II and one tour during the Korean conflict.

In his early life, Mr. Engle was an apprentice cabinet maker at Staton Furniture. He continued his woodworking trade and also worked at Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, and Corning Glass in Greencastle. He later was self-employed as a cabinet maker and potter from his home workshop for more than 40 years, retiring after the fire in 2003. He was the potter at Round Meadow Craft Center in Catoctin Park near Thurmont.

He was a member of Welty Church of the Brethren, Smithsburg, and a former member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Waynesboro. Mr. Engle also was a member of the National Woodcarvers Association and a life member of the Cumberland Valley Craftsmen Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

He was a lifelong supporter of the Boy Scouts, where he was a member of the Order of the Arrow. Mr. Engle enjoyed looking at other carvings and woodwork. He also enjoyed doing pottery demonstrations, especially for groups of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

He is survived by one son, Milton C. Engle of Waynesboro; two stepgrandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Jane Fox of York and Betty Shaeffer of El Salvador and formerly of York; and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Frances Miller, and two brothers, Charles S. Engle and William “Bill” Engle.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, Waynesboro, with the Rev. Michael Manthos and Pastor Jeffrey Walter officiating. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 18600 Crestwood Drive, Hagerstown, Md. 21742 or Welty Church of the Brethren, 13465 Greensburg Road, Smithsburg, Md. 21783.