Barbara Ann Page

Barbara Page, née Barbara Ann Williams, died peacefully at home in Portland surrounded by family on November 11 at age 90. Barbara was born May 16, 1935 to Margaret and H. Wayne Williams in Pasco, Washington. She graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1953 and the University of Oregon with a degree in education in 1957. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

In 1957 Barbara moved to Portland, taught elementary school and soon married UO fiancé Urlin Scott Page III, who was attending UO medical school. The couple lived primarily in Portland, moving for one year to Philadelphia for a medical internship and for two years to Missouri, where Dr. Page served at Fort Leonard Wood as a Captain and surgeon. They raised five children together, but often the household included additional ‘family members’ - friends, exchange students or extended family who often stayed months at a time. The dinner table always had room for extras, and Barbara made her home a haven for her children’s friends as well as her own. Family gatherings usually numbered in the 25-40 range and were boisterous affairs.

Barbara was a dedicated partner to her husband Scott, a wonderful mother to her children, and a homemaker in the truest sense. She was a decorator and do-it-yourselfer, an avid reader, gardener, world traveler, and an accomplished pianist. She was passionate about music, literature, literacy, history, preservation and understanding other cultures. Barbara attended a women's "Tuesday Morning" book club for decades, was active for many years with the Multnomah Club Toastmasters, and was a brilliant story-teller. She so often “improved” her stories that the family lexicon included the verb “to barbaradize,” a synonym for “to embellish”.

She loved her children and their friends. She was an equally enthusiastic grandmother and played an important part in her grandchildren’s lives, always striving to encourage learning and curiosity, and contributing generously to their educational expenses. In return, “Glamma” was adored by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Barbara had a zest for life, showed incredible optimism, and expressed often how very grateful she was for her life experience. She was positive until the end, joking she had lived "a perfect life."

Barbara was predeceased by her husband in 2007 and her sister Mary Jo DeBuse in 2001. She is survived by her five children: Catherine, U. Scott, Thomas, Rebecca, and Amy; sixteen grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and sisters Janice Rutherford, and Margaret Sue Godfrey.

Barbara will be dearly missed by all those who were lucky enough to know her, including her steadfast companion of 17 years, Stanley Sandberg, as well as her many "adopted" children (too numerous to name).

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing donations to the Newport Symphony Orchestra, P. O. Box 1617, Newport, OR 97365, or to the Portland Literacy Council, P.O. Box 2872, Portland OR 97208.

A Celebration of Life is planned, but not yet scheduled. We will post the time and place here when we schedule it.