Dr. Edward "Ed" Dodge

1936 - 2023

Dr. Edward (Ed) Dodge of San Antonio, TX, formerly of Inverness, FL, passed away peacefully on September 27, 2023, at home in the presence of his wife, Carol Dodge.

Ed was born on January 14, 1936 in Salamanca, NY to missionary parents, and he grew up in Angola, Africa. He married Nancy (DeLay) Dodge upon graduation from Taylor University in 1957. After completing his education at Indiana University (MD) and Johns Hopkins University (MPH), Ed began his life-long devotion to the health and well-being of others. In his early career, Ed served as Chief Medical Officer at the Federal Reformatory in Chillicothe, Ohio, before becoming Assistant Professor of Public Health at Haile Selassie University in Gondar, Ethiopia, and then serving as Physician at Frontier Nursing Service in Hyden, Kentucky. After eventually settling in Inverness in 1971, Ed served as the Public Health Director for Citrus and Levy Counties before entering into private practice in 1975.

Along the way, Ed and Nancy had three children (Randall, Jeffrey, and Amy). When Nancy became terminally ill in 1996, Ed retired to care for her full time. In retirement, Ed became a Licensed Unity Teacher and helped strengthen the Unity Church of Citrus County. Ed continued to write a health column (Passion for Health) for the Citrus County Chronicle and authored four books, Tim's Story: Spiritual Perspective of Health; Dan's Story: One Man's Discovery of His Inner Health Power; Family: A Family Doc's Memoir of Life in Africa and the US; and Be Healthy: simple guidelines for lifelong well-being. Ed later served as an itinerant Assistant Professor of Public Health at Africa University in Zimbabwe.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Eunice Dodge, his brother, Clifford Dodge, and his first wife, Nancy Dodge. He is survived by his wife, Carol Dodge, two sisters, Lois Stewart and Margaret Miller, his daughter, Amy Alford (Paul), and his sons, Jeffrey Dodge (Tammi), Randall Dodge (Colleen), and step-son, Matthew Condon, as well as ten grandchildren: Rachel Peterson (Eric), Reid Dodge (Brooke), Meagan Learey (Fred), Abbie Dodge, Spencer Dodge, Zach Alford (Bria), Josh Alford, Sam Alford (Lynn-Anne), Beza Alford, Bayush Alford and two step-grandchildren Kate and Lindsay Condon, as well as five great-grandchildren: Elsie, Nora, & Ruby Peterson; Ella Learey; and Roman Dodge. In addition, Ed was preceded in death by stepsisters Patsy Law, Anne Prevatt and Laura Mae Baker, and is survived by stepsister Gerry Hughes.

Ed Dodge was a beloved family man, community leader, physician, teacher, and minister, who was motivated by his faith in God and his love for people. His passions manifested themselves through his priorities on the value of family, wholesome living, and our universal spiritual foundation. He was an avid gardener, tennis player, hiker/walker, book reader, writer, and chess player. He touched the lives of people, wherever he encountered them. His life reflected his favorite verse, "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

In place of a funeral service, Ed has requested a celebration of his life be held in his memory. We invite all of Ed's friends and loved ones to join us in celebrating his life at Unity Church of Citrus County, 2628 W Woodview Ln, Lecanto, FL 34461 on October 21, 2023 at 3:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Dr. Ed Dodge for scholarships may be made through Unity Church of Citrus County (https://www.unityofcitrus.org).

Friends and loved ones are invited to share their favorite memories of Dr. Ed Dodge in the form provided.