Phyllis J. Mangle (Elsea) Service Information

Phyllis J. Mangle (nee Elsea) passed away on Monday, September 9, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years old. Phyllis was the loving wife of the late Charles A. Mangle.

Phyllis was born on May 20, 1930, in Harrisburg, PA. She was raised in a brick home on a quiet street in Enola, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Pauline Nightwine, was a school teacher in a one room schoolhouse in Sweet Springs Missouri before she married her neighbor, Dr. Robert Lovell Elsea. Once married, they moved to Enola, where he worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg as a research veterinarian. Phyllis and her brother Bob were born in Enola.

Enola was a small town, and right around the corner lived the Mangle children: Charles, Geraldine and John. Phyllis was fast friends with all of them. Geraldine and Charles both played the piano, often accompanied by Phyllis on the violin.

Charles was Phyllis’ first date. They took the bus to the movies only on the condition that her brother Bob would chaperone. The childhood sweethearts were married on June 21, 1952. The young couple settled in Secane, then in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and had three children:  David Charles, Kathleen Robin and Steven Douglas Mangle. They celebrated 69 years of marriage just before Charles passed away in July 2021.

A graduate of Penn State, Phyllis was a Serologist who led the serology department at a medical laboratory for many years until her retirement.

Phyllis had a quick wit and a ready laugh. She loved to solve problems and any kind of puzzle. She often woke in the morning with a poem in her mind, ready to write. She loved to sit at her kitchen table and look through her picture window at the natural woods. She could name any bird that visited her bird feeder and knew the deer that wandered through.

Phyllis lived a purposeful life. She created a legacy of lessons and principles for her family to follow.  She was a faithful member of the Doylestown Presbyterian Church, dedicating countless hours as a youth minister.

Phyllis is survived by her children David Mangle and his wife Cathi of Easton, PA, Kathleen Bonnett and her husband William of Doylestown, PA, Steven Mangle and his life partner Marianne Selleck of Virginia Beach, VA; Dr. William Metz and Amy Metz; 7 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and 3 great great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Gail Elsea; and 10 nieces, nephews and many grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Elsea, and siblings, John Mangle, Irene Mangle, and Geraldine Candeloro.

Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Service on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 127 E. Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, from 10:00am until her Funeral Worship at 11:00am. Interment will take place privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for you to perform a Random Act of Kindness in Phyllis’ name.

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