INVERNESS, Florida — Richard MacLeod Dodge, age 77 of Inverness, Florida passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, April 23, after a period of sudden declining health.

Rick was born in Camden, Maine on July 28, 1945 to George I. Dodge and Alice MacLeod. He spent his younger years in Camden, moving to Owls Head during high school, graduating from Rockland District High School in 1963. He graduated from Husson College in 1965 with a degree in accounting. He married Sandra Diane Elliott on July 11, 1965.

His passions in life were many, with the utmost being his family. He loved to share his joy of the outdoors. His wife and children fondly remember lots of time spent camping, fishing and boating, especially on Moosehead Lake. When his grandchildren came along that passion continued with them.

He and Sandra loved to travel. After they retired, one of their favorites was a road trip to Alaska. Another favorite trip also involved Alaska, when he and his family spent a week exploring the Homer area, while celebrating his 70th birthday and other family accomplishments.

His greatest working accomplishment was owning and building Union Farm Equipment into one of the most successful businesses in the Union area, with his family carrying on the tradition. His roots run deep with this company. Prior to it being called Union Farm Equipment, the business was known as Payson’s Farm Machinery, where Rick worked for many years. He treated people fairly, with respect and the way he wanted to be treated. Union Farm Equipment owes its famous motto, “The Friendly Folks,” to Rick’s leadership of the company. Rick believed in giving back to his community and was actively involved in several not-for-profit organizations, such as Union Masonic Lodge, Union Fair Association, Sportsman Alliance of Maine and Ducks Unlimited.

After living the majority of his life in Maine, he and Sandra retired to Florida, where they continued to enjoy time spent with family and friends.

Rick is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sandra Dodge; daughter Deborah L. Keiran and husband Kenneth J. Keiran of Union; daughter Michelle Lee Dodge of Greenville, South Carolina; grandchildren Jacob Keiran of Union, Kristen Keiran of Rockland, Isaac Keiran (Halsey Yattaw) of Morrisville, North Carolina; brother Edward Dodge of Searsmont; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by father George I. Dodge; mother Alice MacLeod; and brother Phillip Dodge.

He will be greatly missed by many.

A Celebration of life for Rick will be held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m., at Harmony Hill Farm, 1140 N Pond Rd., Warren, ME.

In lieu of flowers, donations made be made to Pope Memorial Humane Society of Thomaston, Maine at https://www.popehumane.org/give-now/.

The family worked with Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation Society in Ocala, Florida.