By Karen Middleton
karen@athensnews-courier.com
—
Online Facebook pages filled with condolences Wednesday as friends learned of the death of Charles Page Sr., many noting he was “a true Southern gentleman.”
Meanwhile, Limestone County Department of Human Resources Director Caroline Page was listed in “good” condition Wednesday in Huntsville Hospital. She is undergoing treatment for a broken hip resulting from the Tuesday-night wreck that killed her 96-year-old father.
According to Athens Police Capt. Floyd Johnson, 59-year-old Caroline Page was driving their pickup truck south on U.S. 31, with her father as a passenger, when their vehicle was struck from behind by another pickup about 7:15 p.m., sending it careening off the road into a culvert just south of the Limestone County Farmers Co-op.
Mr. Page was pronounced dead at Athens-Limestone Hospital emergency room, while Caroline Page was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.
Both father and daughter live on the family farm on Page Road in Tanner, and were returning home after shopping in Athens.
“The driver of the other vehicle was Richard Wilkerson from Decatur,” Johnson said. “This accident is under investigation at this time. There have been no charges or arrest at this time.”
Mr. Page also was the father of Charles Page Jr., Limestone County Circuit Court clerk.
In an April 2009 interview with The News Courier, Mr. Page said he descended from a Union soldier who returned to the South from his native Wisconsin after the Civil War and established a dairy operation.
Mr. Page was a well-known and well-respected resident of the area.
In May, the Limestone County Commission reappointed the senior Page for a four-year term on the Industrial Development Board.
In June, Sheriff Mike Blakely honored Mr. Page for his 14 years of service to the SALT (Seniors And Lawmen Together) Council and commended him on the examples of citizenship he continued to share with the community.
Previously, State Rep. Henry White gave Page a copy of a House resolution honoring him on his birthday.
Mr. Page and his wife of 60 years, Martha, who died in 2008, were active in several social service organizations, such as the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, DHR and Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful.
Mr. Page’s death is a further blow to a family already dealing with the battle being waged against cancer by Will Haney, the husband of Council on Aging Director Emily Page Haney, Mr. Page’s granddaughter.
Limestone Chapel Funeral Home will announce arrangements.
