Larry Lee Sage, 86, of Cartersville, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
Larry was born on October 26, 1939, in Monmouth, Illinois.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy Sage; daughters Dawn DeWald (Duane), Danette Medders (Ernie), and Debbie Godbey (Ted); stepdaughters Linda Stubblefield (Ray), Phyllis Frazier, Beverly Dickenson, Sue Sharp, and Donna Fallin (Wade); and stepsons Sam Harper (Marie) and Michael Harper (Teresa).
Larry’s legacy continues through his grandchildren, Leiha Knecht, Angela McCain, Brock DeWald, Daryll DeWald, Jamie Gordon, Jayson Godbey, Danica Elrod, Shirley Raulerson, Kenneth Coker, Danita Rozelle, Matthew Sanderson, James Fallin, BJ Harper, David Harper, Samantha Harper, Scott Harper, and Crystal Harper; great-grandchildren, Joshua DeWald, Bethany DeWald, Cody Knecht, Julie Knecht, Logan Medlin, Luke Medlin, Haley Winborn, Holly Medders, Aubrey McCann, Austin McCann, Daniel Henein, Miryam Henein, Tyler Godbey, Sidney Gordon, Devyn Stubblefield, Shelby Fry, Tia Fry, Dee Fry, Jason Raulerson, Autumn Jackson, Jesse Coker, Eithan Coker, Ellie Coker, Luna Harper, Leah Harper, Olivia Harper, Elizabeth Harper, Matthew Sanderson Jr., Cody Thorne, and Ellie Bryant; and great-great-grandchildren, Kaleigh-Joe Stubblefield, Adrielle Frye, and Aiden Frye. He is also survived by his brother, Vergil Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Vernon Sage and Wilma Margueritte Sage; his sister, Gloria Hillman; and his stepson, Keith Harper.
Larry proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 21 years, retiring in 1980. He served as a Test Flight Engineer, participating in several historic first flights, including the C-141 Starlifter at Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia, the KC-10 Extender refueling tanker-cargo aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California, and the C-5A Galaxy — at the time the largest cargo aircraft capable of carrying massive payloads such as tanks and helicopters — at Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
While stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, Larry organized a search and rescue unit to assist law enforcement in locating lost individuals in the desert and to provide support to the local base. He and his team were recognized by both local law enforcement and the military for their outstanding community service. He also opened and managed a roller skating rink on the base, gave professional skating lessons to military families, and built the rink into a beloved gathering place.
Following his military retirement, Larry pursued a second career in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Department, later transferring to Bartow County, serving from 1998 to 2014. He also fulfilled his love of the outdoors by purchasing and opening Whispering Pines Campground in Acworth, Georgia, and later opening PawPaw’s Lakeside Market off Allatoona Lake in Acworth.
Larry had a passion for the outdoors, roller skating, and trying his luck with scratch-off tickets and slot machines — always smiling with his winnings. He often said, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”
A celebration and honoring of Larry’s life will be held at Owen Funeral Home, Collins Drive, Cartersville, Georgia. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the service at 1 p.m., with Duane DeWald officiating. Burial will follow at Georgia Memorial Park, Marietta, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or by visiting stjude.org.
