George died the morning of October 30, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born at home on Cherry Street in Bellows Falls on February 21, 1930, to George W. and Gladys Gage. He grew up in Mount Holly and graduated from Wallingford High School in 1948. He worked at Seward’s Creamery and the Rutland Railroad before enlisting in the Army. George is the last surviving member of the Rutland Area “Old Boys” network of Army veterans who served in the Occupied Forces in Germany during the Korean War.

George owned his own small backhoe business in Walpole and over the years he received many inquiries about just where he dug and where the pipes he buried were located. After he worked as a heavy equipment operator for Arthur Whitcomb, he became a Shop Foreman for R.N. Johnson Farm Equipment in Walpole until 1995.

In 1952, he married Vaughnette Nystrom. They raised four children: Verne (Donna), Kevin (Kim), Christine Gowen (Tim) and Brian Gage (Ellie). In 1982, George married Carol Sawyer and acquired four step-children: George (Tina), Sheldon-Tom-Sawyer Jr. (Andrea), Heidi Mason (Scott) and Crystal Phillips (Matt). George and Carol each have seven grandchildren and George has 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson who all called him Papa. George is survived by his sister, Elizabeth Mark, her husband, Art, and their two children in North Carolina. He is predeceased by his first wife, his brother, Roderick, his son-in-law, John Neal and his nephew, Pete Gage.

George was a 71 year member of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge in East Wallingford. He also served as a Commander of the Walpole American Legion where he was very active with their projects: Memorial and Flag day exercises, Chicken Barbecues and Dinners, and placing flags throughout downtown on holidays. The town hall was renovated during his terms as a Walpole Selectman and he also enjoyed his position supervising the highway department. His great joy was building the original Ball-Roentsch Memorial Baseball Field and with his work partner, Ted Brooks maintaining the field for young and not-so-young baseball players until both he and Ted were 80 years old.

In 1968, George built his hunting camp in Mount Holly where generations of the Gage family searched for deer and swapped stories at night. George and Carol enjoyed some favorite places away from home including Moosehead Lake and Aroostook County in Maine. In later years, bluebirds and flowers and time with his family caught his attention.

George’s family appreciates the tireless compassionate care he received from the staff at Maplewood during his final months.

There will be a private family graveside service at Maple Grove Cemetery in East Wallingford on November 13 and a Celebration of Life for George in Spring 2025. George’s wish was that contributions given in his memory go to Shriners Children’s New England Hospital, 516 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Fenton and Hennessy Funeral Home, 55 Westminster Street, Bellows Falls, VT.