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Rev. Evert Leon Dage, 94, died Jan. 12, 2013, one month after the death of his wife, Mary Ellen Dage, 84, Dec. 11, 2012. Funeral services for each of them were held at Springwood Baptist Church in Buchanan, Va., hers on Dec. 15, 2012, his on Jan. 16, 2013.

She was born June 25, 1925, to the late Patton Boyd and Fannie Barbara Wilson Linkenhoker. He was born in 1919 in Miles City, Montana, to the late Leon Percy Dage and Arda Carliziva Carlson Dage.

They married in 1949 shortly after he began his ministerial career in Baltimore Conference. She was a supportive minister’s wife throughout his 42-year career.

After completing his Master of Divinity degree at Drew Theological Seminary in Madison, N.J., he began his ministry in Iowa Conference in 1941 and Peninsula Conference in 1942. In 1948 he came into Baltimore Conference and served First Church-City Station for a year, then was appointed to Violetville from 1949 to 1953. He next served Kemptown, 1953-60, Monroe Street, 1960-64, followed by Lonaconing for two years. In 1966 he was transferred to Brentwood until 1970. In the decade of the 70s, he served United Methodist charges at Edgewater-Parkwood, Dorsey-Emmanuel and Potomac Park in Big Pool. In 1980 he was appointed to the Chesapeake Charge and retired in 1983.

Leon Dage was an accomplished playwright. In the 1950s he encouraged churches to incorporate folk and rock music into worship services. He held healing services in some of the churches he served. He also demonstrated ability for building up congregations to bring churches out of debt.

Mary Ellen Dage studied nursing, was employed as a model and worked for the Montgomery Ward Co. and Martin-Marietta Corporation. She had a gap in her career after her marriage in 1949, while she raised four children. When they were in college, she returned to work, first as an Avon Sales Representative, in the early 70s with the General Board of Church & Society, then in 1975 as administrator at Baltimore Air Coil Corporation until her retirement in 1989. 

Preceding them in their deaths, in addition to parents and his step-mother, Olga Marie Hansen Dage, brothers and sisters, were their two daughters, Arda Marie Dage and Elva Lorinda Dauber.

Survivors include two sons, Evert Leon Dage II and Elbert Leroy Dage; son-in-law, Edwin George Dauber; four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

Condolences for the family may be sent to Elbert L. Dage, 307 James River Terrace, Buchanan, VA   24066.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, 200 E. Joppa, Ste. 407, Towson, MD 21286.