The son of Norman and Jessie Faye Whittle Page, he was born on December 7, 1938 in Beech Bluff, TN. He attended Beech Bluff School for all twelve years and in 1956 moved to Memphis to begin playing guitar with various bands, including Dickey Lee, who remained a lifelong friend.
In 1960, he married the love of his life Emma Ward and they welcomed a daughter, Lisa. Although he was employed as a sheet metal worker, music remained an integral part of his life. With his family he spent many years traveling to Jackson each weekend to play at various clubs and they were avid concertgoers as well.
Richard was a member of the National Guard he served his country for many years. He and Emma loved to travel—many trips to the Bahamas and a lifelong dream trip to Europe with one the highlights seeing the “damn” tulips in Holland. After retirement he began working with metal and produced many beautiful pieces of metal art. With his wife Emma, they took on the role of adoring grandparents as well as “day care” for Lex.
He was a member of the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame, ASCAP, and was an invited guest at Sun Studios fiftieth anniversary celebration as well as appearing in two movies, Walk the Line and Forty Shades of Blue.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Emma Ward Page; brother, Henry Page; and nephew, Haynes Ward.
He is survived by his daughter Lisa and husband Greg Tuten; grandchildm Lex Tuten; niece, Ivy Page Hancock (Trae); nephews, Earl Ward (Dale), Roy Ward (Sue), and Haynes’s wife Allison; and many great nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 21, 2022 at Rocky Springs Cemetery, Beech Bluff, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Jackson, TN or the Lupus Foundation.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GeorgeASmithandSons.com for the Page family.
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