PAGE, David Harold

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday, January 14, 2003 David Harold Page, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Engineer and Traveler, passed away January 12, 2003 after a lengthy fight with cancer. Known by everyone as Dave, he was the son of Marie Agnes and Winfield Harold Page, born on May 3, 1915 in Spokane, Washington. He worked on the family farm until graduating from West Valley High School in 1933. Dave participated as a running back in football and long distance runner in track while attending high school. He was president of his Senior Class and involved in numerous stage productions. He was a member of the Washington National Guard with the 116th Observation Squadron. He attended Gonzaga University from 1934 through 1936 and then transferred to the University of Washington, where he continued his studies in Civil Engineering through 1939. During the summer months he worked with Kaiser Industries (NWAK), in the building of Grand Coulee Dam as a Junior Engineer. On Feb. 10, 1940, Dave and Estelle Koontz were married at Grand Coulee Dam in Washington. During their 62 year marriage, they raised a family of seven children - Charles E. Page of Scottsdale, David K. Page of Glendale, Jim Page of Scottsdale, Tere Bolin of Altadena, CA, Christin Page of Los Angeles, CA, Cathi Waalkes of Muskegon, MI and Patty Page of Scottsdale. Today, there are nineteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Alycemarie Hallett of Hayden Lake, Idaho. Dave started his business career working for the U.S. Government in 1940 building anti-aircraft defenses on the Panama Canal from 1940 through 1941. During the Second World War he was employed at the Kaiser shipyard in Richmond, CA building liberty ships until 1946, then transferred to the Ann Arbor and Dowagiac, Michigan manufacturing plants for Kaiser, building aircraft engines, military jeeps and automobiles, one of them being the original Willis Jeep. He joined Electrol Manufacturing in 1955 and in 1959 left New York for Phoenix, Arizona to form his own company, Ace Tool and Engineering, Inc. Over the next 21 years, his firm manufactured components for the Saturn Apollo space projects and numerous fighter and commercial aircraft. He retired in 1980. During his life he served his community as president of the Arizona Tool & Die Association, president of the local water district association for 20 years, and president of the Scottsdale Chapter of the American Field Service (student foreign exchange). He was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and The Elks Club. He was a social member with the Arizona Country Club. Since his retirement, Dave and Estelle traveled extensively at home and abroad. They worked over a decade in support of The Casa Franciscana Outreach for children in Guaymas, Mexico. There will be a Memorial Service at The Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, Arizona, on January 15 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the family home. Assistance with arrangements is through Messinger Indian School Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Casa Franciscana Outreach, 7308 E. Weathersfield Road, Scottsdale, Az.,85260. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.