Linda Dague

Muncie native Linda Jo Clark Dague, 75, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of October 1, 2022, at her Muncie home. Linda was born at Ball Memorial Hospital on April 12, 1947, to the late Gene Phillip Clark, Sr., and Dorothy Catherine Griffin Clark.

Linda was best known as a local attorney at law for forty years, but that was her second career. She began law school at age thirty-three, with her ten- and eight-year-old daughter and son in tow. All three have always spoken of, “when we went to law school.” She completed law school, earning her Doctor of Jurisprudence with honors and passing the bar exam in a total of thirty months, and was graduated from the Indiana University (Bloomington) Maurer School of Law in December 1982. She then returned to Muncie and began her legal practice at what was then the firm of Warner, Wallace, Peckinpaugh, & McLaren in January 1983.

In June 1995, Linda’s daughter joined her in that same law firm, which later became Warner, Wallace, McLaren, Dague, & Buck. In August 2000, the two of them established Dague & Buck, LLP, and they continued practicing law together until Linda’s death. Linda’s Buck grandchildren each spent every workday at the office with their mother and grandmother for the first two and a half years of their lives, providing much entertainment and distraction for many employees, clients, and friends.

Throughout her career, Linda was a member of the Indiana State Bar Association (Board of Governors, 1993-1995; Nominating Committee for the House of Delegates, 1998; Nominating Committee 2003; and Member of the House of Delegates, numerous times) and the Muncie Bar Association (President, 1992-1993). She also was a member of the East Central Indiana Estate Planning Council for more than thirty years, serving as President in 2005-2006, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Organization of Indiana from 1994-1999. Linda also served as a Master Commissioner in the Delaware County Court System, in Superior Court 3 from 1988-1996 and in Superior Court 4 in 1998, and as a public defender in Circuit Court 1 in 2001 and in Title IV-D Court in 2002.

Prior to law school, Linda worked as national editor for Pi Lambda Theta, National Honor and Professional Association in Education, and in public relations for RCA Corp. in Bloomington. In college, she served as editor-in-chief of the Indiana Daily Student, the daily campus newspaper of Indiana University Bloomington, and as managing editor of the Arbutus yearbook. She was graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Arts in the majors of Journalism and English in 1968.

Linda was a tremendous Bearcat fan and a proud member of the Muncie Central High School Class of 1965. As a senior in high school, she was the editor of the Magician yearbook, which won All-American honors, and received the Oliver W. Storer Scholarship. She served as General Chair for the Class of 1965’s reunions and birthday parties, beginning with the 20-year reunion, throughout this summer’s 57-year reunion (the 55-year was rescheduled twice due to the pandemic), and took great joy in her friendships and connections with her classmates. When Linda’s children were at Muncie Central, she cheered them on at band performances and football games, and she was delighted to repeat the experience with her Buck grandchildren at Muncie Central, at band and theatre performances.

Linda served the community as a member of various organizations and boards, including the Altrusa Club of Muncie, from 1986 until she became an Emeritus member earlier this year; PEO Philanthropic Organization, 2005-2021; Muncie Central High School Alumni Association (President, 2008), from 2002 on; YWCA of Muncie Board of Trustees, 1987-1995; High Street United Methodist Church; Riley-Jones Club; Muncie Central Band Boosters (Secretary, 1985-1989), and several others.

Linda is survived by her daughter and son, Mary Louise (Schuyler) Buck of Muncie, and Robert Clark (Shelly) Dague of Sebring, Florida, and grandchildren, Angela Buck and Spenser Gene Buck, both of Muncie, and Janelle Dague, of Sebring, Florida. She also is survived by her aunt, Martha Clark Hughes, also of Muncie, several first and second cousins, and her beloved DeeDee, a rescued yellow Labrador.

In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her brother, Gene Phillip Clark, Jr., earlier this year, her grandparents, C. Merle and Nonis Clark of Crossroads, and Leon and Dolly Griffin of Muncie, and several aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 10, 2022, at 1:00 p.m., at Elm Ridge Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 4600 West Kilgore Avenue, Muncie, with calling from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and graveside services to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) at 1209 West Riggin Road, Muncie, Indiana 47304, or to another charity of the donor’s choice.