Cynthia A. (Ryan) Engle

Cynthia (Cyndy) Anne (Ryan) Engle, 54, passed away on October 2nd at her Millheim, PA, home after a difficult journey with cancer. Born on February 27, 1964, in Flushing, NY, she was the daughter of the late Arthur James Ryan III and the late Patricia K. (Manly) Ryan. Cyndy attended many schools during her childhood as she traveled and lived with her military family in locations such as West Point, Hawaii, and Bogotá, Colombia. Cyndy graduated from Havre de Grace Senior High School in Havre de Grace, Maryland, where she was drum major of the marching band. Cyndy then attended Hartford Community College and The Pennsylvania State University, where she was a student in the College of Communications and a deejay for the student-run radio station. 

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Cyndy worked in the Centre County hotel/restaurant service industry at several places, collecting life-long friends along the way. At the same time, she established an independent computer consulting business, PC Medics & Co., with her husband Mark Engle. PC Medics recently celebrated its 27th anniversary. Cyndy and Mark also purchased the Millheim Theatre in 1995, with the intention of combining professional/commercial space with their family home.

Although Cyndy lived many different places in her youth, she finally found ‘home’ when she moved full-time to Penns Valley in 2001. Beyond her family and business lives, Cyndy dedicated herself to service in the Valley, including many different roles: member of the Centre County Library Board; den mother and council member for Millheim Pack & Troop 88;  founding member and past president of the East Penns Valley Community Business Association; and supporter of the Penns Valley Area School District All-Sports Booster Club. Some of Cyndy’s favorite community service included participation in the planning and coordination of many Valley community events (Christmas in Millheim, Merry Millheim, and Mayfly Festival). Beginning in 2014, Cyndy organized and hosted the annual “Festival of the Trees” at the Millheim Theatre during the winter holidays to raise proceeds for local non-profit organizations. 

Cyndy was an avid writer and poet for most of her life. She also discovered photography as a new passion and form of expression in the early 2000s through participation in an online Photo-a-Day group. This experience led to the establishment of Cyndy’s 110 Penned & Pixelated venture in 2007, where she combined her loves of writing, photography, and Penns Valley history, scenery, and people. From foggy farm landscapes to outdoor laundry lines to delicate flower close-ups, Cyndy’s art has been on display at numerous locations throughout the Valley and was the inspiration for Cyndy’s feature-length film, “My Big Backyard,” which premiered in 2015.

Cyndy was many things to many people. Some may best remember Cyndy through her reliable presence in the stands at Penns Valley sporting events or precariously parked alongside Valley backroads with her camera in hand or distributing buttery popcorn on the Theatre’s front steps during Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Cyndy will also be remembered for her immense love of books, Labrador retrievers, and Penn State football. Perhaps first and foremost, Cyndy was an incredible mother to her five children - but also many others. Her patience, insight, genuineness, and compassion were gifts shared with everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. 

Cyndy is survived by her husband of 30 years, Mark Engle, her five children, Elyzabeth (Chris Hazel) Engle of Westminster, MD, Nickelaus Engle, Benjamin Engle, Zachariah Engle, and Maximillian Engle of Millheim, PA, and her mother-in-law, Marilyn (Nickel) Engle of State College, PA. Also surviving are her siblings Sandra Vancheri of Salisbury, MD, James (Bridget) Ryan of Durham, NC, and Sharon (Scott) Mortenson of Greensboro, NC and loving nieces and nephews. Also remaining are her dear pets, Cye, Che, Gus, and Bagheera, and a wide, caring community of family, friends, and neighbors.

A visitation and reception will be held concurrently on Saturday, October 13, at St. Luke’s Church (117 Penn Street) and the Millheim Theatre (110 Penn Street) from 11am-2pm in Millheim, PA.

A celebration of life memorial service will be scheduled for summer of 2019. Memorial gifts may be made to https://www.gofundme.com/cyndy-engle039s-millheim-theatre?sharetype=teams&member=864778&rcid=r01-153875268849-886a99b1f91c430b&pc=ot_co_campmgmt_w to help realize Cyndy’s dream of renovating the Millheim Theatre for public use and events. Additionally, a website is coming where people can purchase Cyndy Engle’s photography, proceeds from which will also go towards the renovation of the Millheim Theatre.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Cynthia A. (Ryan) Engle, please visit our floral store.