Dorothy Lee Page (nee Willis), 97, of Paducah, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2025, closing the end of an era for the Western Kentucky town where she was among the last of the ‘Greatest Generation.’
Dorothy was born at her family’s Mayfield home on August 6, 1928. Blue and appearing to be lifeless, the doctor had wrapped her in a blanket when her grandmother intervened, rubbing whiskey on her lips. With a mischievous smile, Dorothy would often recount the story, suggesting that it was the only time she had whiskey.
A child of the Great Depression, the Willis family moved to Michigan, where her father was able to get work in a Ford factory. Those tough years ingrained in Dorothy a work ethic that endured well into her 80s. The daughter of a preacher, her childhood also laid the foundation for an incredible faith. Dorothy often quoted scripture. Her favorite was from the Sermon on the Mount, recounted in Matthew 5:9.
The church not only brought Dorothy closer to the Lord but also led her to her great love, Jim Page. The two met as teenagers, and when Page joined the U.S. Army during World War II, they wrote beautiful letters with promises of being together and starting a family. When Jim returned in 1947, that dream was realized.
Their son Tony was born in 1949. The years that followed not only redefined the restaurant landscape of Paducah but, with their young son in tow, were among their happiest. Working side by side, the Pages owned and operated multiple restaurants, including Pizza Inn, Griff’s Burger Bar, Church’s Chicken, and El Chico. The couple’s first restaurant, the Noble Park Dairy Queen, remains in the Page family. Dorothy, never one to slow down, remained a fixture in the family’s restaurants until recent years, often stopping by the Dairy Queen after church for a double cheeseburger with mustard, pickle, and onion.
In addition to more than 6 decades dedicated to the restaurant business, Dorothy was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and active in her church, First Baptist of Paducah. She was twice named a Duchess of Paducah for her efforts to develop and create Noble Park as it is today. Beyond gardening and volunteer work, Dorothy found her greatest joy in being ‘Nana’ to her adored grandson, Jay, and in later years, her great-granddaughters.
Left to cherish her memory are son, Tony Page (Kayla) of Paducah, KY; grandson, Jay Page (Lauren) of Louisville, KY; great-grandchildren Caroline, Camille, and Annabelle; and a special friend, April Holland, who provided companionship and care to Dorothy for more than a decade.
Dorothy was preceded in death by Jim, her loving husband of 68 years, niece Beverly Sue Rikel, and nephew William J. Page. Her parents were the Rev. G.C. and Lois Willis.
The funeral services, being handled by Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah, will be private. Rev. Tommy Tucker will officiate. The family wishes to express gratitude to the dedicated group of women who provided compassionate and exceptional care to Dorothy.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to First Baptist Church of Paducah, 2890 Broadway, Paducah, KY, 42001. Share a memory or leave a message for the family at www.milnerandorr.com.
