Ethel B. Engel

Ethel B. Engel, 83, of Bel Air, MD passed away at her home in Bel Air on February 27, 2015. She was born in Colora, MD to the late Charles Frederick Burkins and Hazel Violet Brown Burkins. She graduated from the Tome School Class of 1949 as Valedictorian. After graduating High School she attended Towson Teachers College (Towson State University) and graduated in 1953. She taught in the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Public Schools before moving to Bel Air in 1955. She taught first grade at Harford Day School from 1967 to 1973. She spent the last 20 years of her teaching career as a Substitute teacher at the Harford County Public Schools. She was a very generous person. She opened her home to many foster children and stray animals. She considered everyone her friend and never met a stranger. She was an active member of the Bel Air Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years where she taught Sunday School, was a leader of the Senior Highs and other church groups, and volunteered in the office until her death. She had been a Founder and Treasurer of the Bel Air Youth Center and had been a member of the Harford F.O.P. Lodge and the Jaycees She was also active in the Boy and Girl Scouts. She was an award winning Avon Sales Representative for more than 30 years. She was most recently a mentor at Avondell, her home in Bel Air.

Mrs. Engel is survived by her children, Christina Dawson and her husband Mike of Vashon, WA, Charles Henry Engel-Le and his partner Jack of Richmond, VA, Phyllis Kathleen Frazier and her husband Ron of Elkton, MD, John Frederick Engel and his wife Melanie of Delta, PA, and foster son H. Scott Burton and his wife Donna of Pylesville, MD as well as her brother Charles Frederick Burkins, Jr. and his family of York, Pa. She had 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and many friends. In addition to her parents and husband she was predeceased by her son Henry Charles Engel III and grandson John Andrew Engel. She loved children and was a very doting mother and grandmother.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Shreffler House, First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD 21014 or Brightview Avondell, 128 W. Ring Factory Road, Bel Air, MD 21014.