Ernest B. Page, Jr. MD

Dr. Ernest Benjamin Page, Jr. died at home surrounded by his loving family on September 13, 2011 after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Ernie, as he was known, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, physician, humanitarian, and lifelong student who dedicated his life to serving his family, the medical profession, his church, and his community.

Ernie is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Nina Musselman Page of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Together, they formed a lifelong team.

Ernie was the older of two children born to Ernest and Alma Page in Bethel, NC on February 1, 1926. Ernie graduated from Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh in 1943. He attended Duke University as a part of the Navy V12 program, where he met his wife, Nina. They were married in the Duke Chapel in 1948, and they both graduated from Duke Medical School in 1949.

Ernie interned at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. He spent the next two years in the Air Force stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. Later, he returned to Duke to complete his residency in internal medicine.

In 1955, Ernie and Nina moved to Raleigh where Ernie opened his medical practice and practiced internal medicine for 37 years. He will always be remembered for the kindness, respect, and love that he showed his patients. His patients remember his ability to listen and connect with them as patients and individuals.

As a member of the Raleigh medical community throughout his life, Ernie was active in various Raleigh medical organizations. The many leadership positions that he held include President of the Raleigh Society of Internal Medicine, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Wake Medical Center, President of the Medical Staff at the Wake Medical Center, and President of the Wake County Medical Society.

Ernie always loved teaching nurses and students, and he was a clinical professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina.

Ernie devoted much of his free time to serving his community. Ernie and Nina have been steadfast members at White Memorial Presbyterian Church since they moved to Raleigh 56 years ago. Ernie has served as a deacon and as an elder. Ernie said that while he always enjoyed practicing medicine, his greatest satisfaction came from his 14 medical missions to Villahermosa, Mexico as part of a church program. Over the years the members of that Mexican community came to see Ernie as their regular physician, and their mutual love was evident. Ernie was on the board of FIGS - Filling in Gaps, a program committed to providing medications to the indigent. Ernie and Nina have also volunteered their time tutoring students in several local schools. Ernie and Nina participated for several years in Community in the Schools, a program to discuss values and life skills with at-risk students. Ernie was also a member of the West Raleigh Rotary Club. Ernie's kind and gracious service touched many, many lives in Raleigh and in Mexico.

Ernie lived a full and active life, and he was never idle. Ernie and Nina were avid members of Club XVII, a dinner dance group, and they loved playing bridge in several bridge clubs. Ernie was forever working on a project or pursuing one of his hobbies. His hobbies included photography, woodworking, guitar, tennis, hunting, and fishing. Ernie will always be remembered for having a camera, or two, or three around his neck. During Ernie's illness, his family enjoyed reminiscing and looking at many of the family photos.

Ernie's greatest passion was spending time with his family. His happiest moments were spent at the family's house on Lake Gaston surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. His grandchildren fondly remember spending time at “Camp Grandpa” where Ernie taught them how to fish, sail, water-ski, and play board games. We will always remember him sailing with Nina, netting a fish, constantly taking photographs, and presiding over family dinners.

Ernie's lifelong passion for learning and teaching will never be forgotten. Those who knew and loved him will forever miss his wry grin and the twinkle in his eye.

Ernie’s family would like to thank all of his friends, neighbors, colleagues, health care providers, and the members of White Memorial who have given support to Ernie and Nina during his illness. If wealth is measured by the number of one’s friends, Ernie died a wealthy man.

Ernie is survived by his wife Nina, and his sister Virginia Max of Middleton, Ohio. He is also survived by his five children: Judy Genaille (Dick) of Burke, Virginia ; Ernie Page (Ann) of Salt Lake City, Utah ; Becky Pyrch (Tom) of Raleigh, NC ; Susie Lodewijks (John) of Sydney, Australia, and Peggy Page of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ernie was very devoted to his 11 grandchildren and his 3 great grandchildren.

A Witness to the Resurrection and Memorial Service for Ernie will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, September 18, 2011 at White Memorial Presbyterian Church (1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, 27608). The family will receive friends in the White Memorial Jane Bell Gathering Space from 6 to 8 PM on Saturday, September, 17.

In lieu of flowers, should you wish to honor Ernie, please consider a gift to White Memorial Presbyterian Church, Hospice of Wake County (www.hospiceofwake.org), or FIGS - Filling in Gaps (www.figsofwake.org).

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh.