Jerry Lane Page, 93, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Frankfort, Kentucky. He was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on July 23, 1933, to the late Murrell Thomas Page and Lorene Bryan Page. Jerry was a 1951 graduate of Augusta Tilghman High School and a 1953 graduate of Paducah Junior College. He served in the United States Army with the Artillery Division, stationed in England. He returned to Kentucky to resume his education and was a 1956 graduate of Murray State College. He was awarded a scholarship to attend the Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, and graduated with his LLB Degree in 1959. He was a 1973 graduate of Harvard University, School of Business Administration, Advanced Management Program, where he lived and studied with business executives from all over the world. He maintained contact with these classmates and their families over many years, visiting in their homes and entertaining them in Paducah.
Jerry joined the Crounse Corporation, a barge line based in Paducah, upon graduation from law school in 1959, and was named President and Director in 1975. He served in that position until his retirement in 1985. At the time of his retirement, Crounse Corp. was operating 21 towboats and over 500 barges, had approximately 275 employees, and was transporting in excess of 20 million tons of coal annually. After retirement, he engaged in business consulting and investments, and he enjoyed playing golf. A highlight of his golfing memories was May 2, 1968, when both he and Ed Hannan scored a hole-in-one on the same hole.
Jerry was a former member of First Christian Church of Paducah, at 7th and Jefferson, where he sang in the choir and met his wife, Sara Lowry Page, the church organist. He was also a deacon, elder, chair of the board, and facilitator in the construction of the new church buildings on Audubon Drive in the 1960s. He was appointed to the National Board of Church Extension for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and worked to provide financial and capital resources to grow the church. He was a current member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served faithfully on various committees and boards.
Jerry’s great love for the Paducah community led him to generously volunteer his leadership skills with various organizations, including Director, Peoples First Corporation; Director, Peoples First National Bank & Trust Company; Past Chairman, Board of Directors, Lourdes Health System and Lourdes Hospital; Past President, Greater Paducah Chamber of Commerce; Past Chairman, Board of Trustees, Paducah Public Library; Former Director, American Waterways Operators, Inc., Ohio Valley Improvement Association, and National Waterways Conference, Inc.; Former Member, Kentucky Coal Policy Council; and Director Emeritus, Board of Directors, Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center.
Jerry is survived by his daughter, Janet Page Lile of Frankfort, Kentucky; two sons, Robert “Bob” Page of Sun City Center, Florida, and David Page of Paducah, Kentucky; four grandchildren, Lowry (Patti) Page, Sara Floyd, Elle (Pete) Travis, and Carly (Bryan) Baker; eight great-grandchildren, Quinn Page, Emma Page, Madison Floyd, William Floyd, Rhys Travis, Lane Travis, and twins Charlotte and Sophie Baker; niece, Diane (Dirk) Duhlstine, and two nephews Allen (Carol) Lowry, and Wayne (Peggy) Lowry.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sara Jane Lowry Page; his parents and stepmother, Mary Virginia Church Page; and his stepsister, Charlotte Gordon.
In honor of Jerry’s request, there are no services or visitation planned at this time.
Donations in his honor may be directed to First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church, the Four Rivers Center, or a charity of your choice.
Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of arrangements.
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