1929
Franklyn
2015
Franklyn R Engler
April 23, 1929 — October 5, 2015
Franklyn Raymond Engler was born in Seguin, Texas on April 23, 1929. His parents were Robert and Louise Specht Engler.
After graduating from Seguin High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army. He held all ranks from Private to Master Sergeant before he attended and graduated from Officer Candidate School, Class 28, Fort Benning, Georgia in September 1952 and was commissioned 2nd. LT. Infantry. He continued to serve in the army until 1954 when he was discharged from active duty. He remained in the US Army Reserve and attained the rank of Captain before resigning in 1958. Frank was extremely proud of his years in the service of his country.
From 1954 to 1958 he attended The University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in January of 1958. He was an avid “Longhorn” supporter for the remainder of his life and was a Life Member of the Ex-Students Association.
His first job after college was with The Pure Oil Company in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was an oil scout. When Pure Oil closed their office in Corpus Christi, he was immediately hired by Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation as an oil scout and geologist. He was very active in the scouting association and established and managed a sample service for that organization. In 1962 he married Bessie “Bunny” Wynn, who was born and reared in Harlingen and La Feria. She had moved to Corpus Christi in 1956 and was employed by Tidewater Oil Company. In 1964 he was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he helped develop a gas storage field in Accident, Maryland. During that time he participated in the drilling and completion of more than sixty wells in the Accident Storage Field. In addition, he worked on numerous oil and gas exploration projects in the Appalachian Basin and Offshore United States areas. He also was part of a team that explored the possibilities of coal gasification.
In 1971 he resigned from Texas Eastern to pursue a career as an independent consultant. In 1979 he formed Engler Exploration, Inc., which later became Engler, Inc. He was President of Engler, Inc. and remained active in the oil and gas business until his death. Bunny was his secretary and bookkeeper during those years and continues to manage their interests in West Virginia.
He was one of the founding members of The Eastern Section of The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and served as its first Secretary/Treasurer. In 1986 this organization honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. In the early 1970s he was elected and served as Secretary of the AAPG House of Delegates for one year. Since 1978 he had been a member of the Trustee Associates of the AAPG. He also was a member of the Washington D.C. chapter of the AAPG as well as the Corpus Christi chapter. He was a Certified Professional Geologist and a member of The American Institute of Professional Geologists.
He lived in Pittsburgh until October of 1999 when he and his wife Bunny moved to Harlingen and resided in Palm Valley. He was a member of the Harlingen Rotary Club until ill-health forced him to resign. In addition he was a member of the Harlingen American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Leon, Marvin, Vincent and Roy Engler; and his sisters Elsa Heinemeyer and Melanie Engler.
He is survived by Bunny, his wife of fifty-three years; his daughter Donna Ann Engler Howard; his son-in-law Nicholas Phillip Howard; his grandchildren Nicholas Franklyn Howard, John Phillip Howard, Elizabeth Selina Howard and Katherine Grace Howard; and several nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and professional associates.
Contributions may be made to Harlingen Loaves & Fishes, Sunny Glen Children’s Home, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at a later date and interment will be in The Harlingen Cemetery.
After graduating from Seguin High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Army. He held all ranks from Private to Master Sergeant before he attended and graduated from Officer Candidate School, Class 28, Fort Benning, Georgia in September 1952 and was commissioned 2nd. LT. Infantry. He continued to serve in the army until 1954 when he was discharged from active duty. He remained in the US Army Reserve and attained the rank of Captain before resigning in 1958. Frank was extremely proud of his years in the service of his country.
From 1954 to 1958 he attended The University of Texas at Austin and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in January of 1958. He was an avid “Longhorn” supporter for the remainder of his life and was a Life Member of the Ex-Students Association.
His first job after college was with The Pure Oil Company in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was an oil scout. When Pure Oil closed their office in Corpus Christi, he was immediately hired by Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation as an oil scout and geologist. He was very active in the scouting association and established and managed a sample service for that organization. In 1962 he married Bessie “Bunny” Wynn, who was born and reared in Harlingen and La Feria. She had moved to Corpus Christi in 1956 and was employed by Tidewater Oil Company. In 1964 he was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he helped develop a gas storage field in Accident, Maryland. During that time he participated in the drilling and completion of more than sixty wells in the Accident Storage Field. In addition, he worked on numerous oil and gas exploration projects in the Appalachian Basin and Offshore United States areas. He also was part of a team that explored the possibilities of coal gasification.
In 1971 he resigned from Texas Eastern to pursue a career as an independent consultant. In 1979 he formed Engler Exploration, Inc., which later became Engler, Inc. He was President of Engler, Inc. and remained active in the oil and gas business until his death. Bunny was his secretary and bookkeeper during those years and continues to manage their interests in West Virginia.
He was one of the founding members of The Eastern Section of The American Association of Petroleum Geologists and served as its first Secretary/Treasurer. In 1986 this organization honored him with its Distinguished Service Award. In the early 1970s he was elected and served as Secretary of the AAPG House of Delegates for one year. Since 1978 he had been a member of the Trustee Associates of the AAPG. He also was a member of the Washington D.C. chapter of the AAPG as well as the Corpus Christi chapter. He was a Certified Professional Geologist and a member of The American Institute of Professional Geologists.
He lived in Pittsburgh until October of 1999 when he and his wife Bunny moved to Harlingen and resided in Palm Valley. He was a member of the Harlingen Rotary Club until ill-health forced him to resign. In addition he was a member of the Harlingen American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Leon, Marvin, Vincent and Roy Engler; and his sisters Elsa Heinemeyer and Melanie Engler.
He is survived by Bunny, his wife of fifty-three years; his daughter Donna Ann Engler Howard; his son-in-law Nicholas Phillip Howard; his grandchildren Nicholas Franklyn Howard, John Phillip Howard, Elizabeth Selina Howard and Katherine Grace Howard; and several nieces and nephews.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and professional associates.
Contributions may be made to Harlingen Loaves & Fishes, Sunny Glen Children’s Home, or the charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held at a later date and interment will be in The Harlingen Cemetery.
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