Ramona Carolyn Engle, a beloved mother, grandmother, and educator, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024, at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, at the age of 91. Carolyn was previously a resident of Balko, Oklahoma, and Liberal, Kansas, before she relocated to Lee’s Summit.
Carolyn was born in Balko, Oklahoma, on June 26, 1933, to William McGlamery and Katherine Marie Ball Enterline McGlamery. After her father’s death in 1939, she and her twin sister were raised by her mother, Marie, and her older brother Kenneth and cousin Franklin on the family farm. She grew up with a passion for learning and a deep commitment to helping others, which shaped her life and career.
Carolyn was a gifted athlete, excelling in basketball, and had a lifelong passion for music. She and her twin sister Marolyn performed as “The Glamer Girls,” singing in talent competitions throughout their childhood and teenage years. Her love of singing continued throughout her life, and she found immense joy performing in church choirs and musical ensembles at John Knox Village well into her 80s.
After graduating from Balko High School, Carolyn earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Panhandle State University, laying the foundation for a lifelong dedication to teaching. She spent many years as an educator for USD 480 in Liberal, touching countless lives with her patience, warmth, and unwavering belief in the power of education. In addition to teaching, she helped her husband Wayne in his business, Engle Electric.
Carolyn was an integral part of Liberal, Kansas’s rich tradition of the International Pancake Day Race. In 1961, she proudly represented Liberal in this unique competition, securing victory against Olney, England, with a time of 1 minute and 11 seconds. The Associated Press picked up pictures of the event, and Carolyn received recognition worldwide, including several marriage offers from strangers. Her victory in the competition highlighted her athletic prowess and her dedication to community traditions. This event began in 1950 and has become a cherished annual celebration in Liberal, fostering community spirit and international camaraderie.
In 1961, Carolyn married Carl Wayne Engle on June 11, and together, they had two children, Carla and Curtis, whom they raised in Liberal. Wayne preceded her in death in 2006 after almost 45 years of marriage. Carolyn is survived by her children, Carla (Katherine) and Curtis (Marnie), and her grandchildren, Rinn, Liam, Finley, Logan, and Lillian Engle.
In addition to her professional achievements, Carolyn was a pillar of her community, a woman of deep faith, and a source of inspiration to all who knew her. She was a member for many years at First Southern Baptist Church in Liberal, KS, and later a member of First Baptist Church in Lee’s Summit. In her 19 years at John Knox Village, she was a devoted friend and caregiver to many residents.
Carolyn’s life will be celebrated with a visitation at 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W 2nd Street, Liberal, Kansas.
Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM, Friday, December 6, 2024, at First Southern Baptist Church, 621 N. Western, Liberal, Kansas.
An interment will follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Balko, Oklahoma.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Heart Association in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W 2nd Street, Liberal, Kansas.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.hornungfuneralhome.com
