MG (Retired) William C. Page Jr.

Major General (Retired) William C. Page Jr. of Maumelle, passed on October 29, 2023.

A funeral service will be conducted at First United Methodist Church in Maumelle on Friday, November 3 at 11:00 AM.

Major General Page was born on February 26, 1939 in Tupelo, Mississippi. His military career spanned a 33 year duration and took himself and family to the far reaches of the globe. He was an avid golfer and outdoorsman, spending as much time as he could on the course at Maumelle Country Club, fishing on his beloved White River in Arkansas and hunting with good friends in south Texas. He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson, smoking a good cigar and travel to foreign destinations. He loved aviation and was an accomplished pilot. Though his passions and pursuits were many, above all, he was a solider. His commitment to duty and country, steadfast.

He was commissioned in 1960 upon graduation from the Field Artillery Officer Candidate School. His military education included Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course, Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.

His initial assignment was as an aviator with the 502nd Aviation Company, 2nd Armored Division, Fort Hood, Texas. From 1963-65, he served in the 11th Air Assault Division, Fort Benning, Georgia and accompanied the division on deployment to Vietnam as the !st Cavalry (Air Mobile).

After subsequent assignments to Hanau, West Germany and Fort George Meade, Maryland, he returned to Vietnam in 1969 as Executive Officer and Commander, 225th Aviation Company (Surveillance Airplane), 223rd Aviation Battalion (Combat).

Upon graduation from Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1972, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, First Cavalry Division and in -1976, to Washington, D.C. in the inspector General, Inspections and Surveys Division.

A 1978-80 tour of duty to Seoul, South Korea led him to command the 52nd Aviation Battalion (Assault Helicopter), followed by his return to Fort Hood, Texas as Deputy Commander, 6th Calvary Brigade (Air Combat) and Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 (Operation), 2nd Armored Division.

Following graduation from the Army War College in 1983, he returned to South Korea to command the 17th Aviation Group (Combat). In 1985, he served at U.S. Army Forces Command as Assistant Deputy Chief of staff for Operations, Fort McPherson, Georgia and later as Assistant Division commander for Maneuver in the 24th Infantry Division Mechanized, Fort Stewart, Georgia.

He later served as Commander, U.S. Army Test Experimentation Command and then assumed the position of Deputy Commanding General, III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas until his retirement from the Army in 1993.

He then moved to Maumelle, Arkansas and enjoyed working in the private sector for five years as a stock broker with Smith Barney.

His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, 11 Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement medal and Master Aviator Badge.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Gayle L. Page, of Maumelle, his son William C. Page III of Little Rock, his daughter Allison D. Carpenter of Fort Worth, TX, his sister Billie Ann Myers of Jacksonville, grandchildren Zachary Carpenter of Arlington, TX, Jessica Carpenter of Fort Worth, TX, Benjamin Carpenter of El Paso, TX, and three great grandchildren.