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Thomas Charles Page died on April 3, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. He was born on February 14, 1934 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania to Thomas J. and Ella M. Page.

Thomas was a 1951 graduate of Shaler High School in Pittsburgh. He served in the Navy from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War, and was an Electrician Petty Officer Second Class on the destroyer USS Porterfield. He joined the Navy to “see the world,” and his love of travel continued throughout life.

Thomas returned home to marry his high school sweetheart, Dolores Templin, and work for Bell Telephone of Pennsylvania as a sales representative. He was a Bell and AT&T employee for 30 years and retired as AT&T Public Relations Manager for Western Pennsylvania. He remained a Pittsburgher at heart despite work relocations, as evidenced by Steeler season tickets and putting Heinz ketchup on most everything.

Thomas and Dolores are survived by a daughter, Diane Page, and two granddaughters, Louise Mittelman with her spouse Gregory Thrasher, and Theresa Mittelman. As brother-in-law to Dolores’s three siblings, the late Jean Etzel, the late James Templin, and Kathleen Riddle, Thomas was a loving and fun uncle of ten nieces and nephews.

After devotedly caring for Dolores during her final illness until her death in 2004, Thomas married Jane Evelyn Gibson of New Castle in 2006, and was delighted to acquire three more daughters, Joyce Kreizter, the late Jeannie Gibson, and Jennifer Willetts, plus ten grandchildren, and, eventually, eight great-grandchildren. Thomas and Evelyn were together until her death in 2022.

Thomas served his community as well as his country. He was a life member of the American Legion, Korean War Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a Rotary member during his business career. He was a devout Roman Catholic, volunteering for church events and teaching Sunday School.

Thomas had a zest for life and all its adventures, including but not limited to wilderness canoeing with the Scouts, completing (or breaking down on) many cross-country road trips, stalking walleye in his fishing boat, collecting visa stamps from all over the world with two spouses, engaging in ambitious and sometimes dangerous home improvement and landscaping projects, and making beer in the basement followed by epic poker parties.

Shortly before his death, Thomas moved from the St. Barnabas Retirement Community in Gibsonia to his daughter’s home in Virginia, where they enjoyed a quieter life of meals together, treats for the dog, checker games, and arguing over the TV remote. As a friend said, “Tom was a character with character.” He will be greatly missed.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Catherine of Sweden Church, 2554 Wildwood Road, Allison Park, PA at 10:30 on Monday, April 21. Donations in Thomas’s name to the VFW HQ may be made at https://heroes.vfw.org/page/23487/donate/1 or directly by check to Mars VFW Post 7505, 331 Mars-Valencia Rd, Mars, PA 16046.

Would like to hear from ship mates.

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I served in the main control worked on the evaps with Frank Paxton and David Lesh. From 1968 to decommisioning.

I served on board 1968 to decommissioning in 1969. worked in main control with Frank Paxton and David Lesh. would like to hear from old shipmates.

James Bennet served onboard-he has Diabetes-can anyone help with his VA claim-call me or Jim 507-451-4535

Looking for old shipmate Charlie Clark MM3 from La.

great crew. join our reunion listed uss balch/porterfield.

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Larry Howell I saw your name in the shipmates registry

Good site. Looking for old mates. Especially from 66 & 67 WESTPACs. Email me.

Years Served: 1943-45…My Father, John T. Teehan served on the U.S.S. Porterfield from 1943 to 1945. He passed away in 1993, but some of his final words were that his time on the Porterfield were the best in his life.

Years Served: 6…I would like to say hello to all my fellow sailors who also served aboard the USS Porterfield.

Years Served: 1958-1960…It would be nice to hear from anyone from the Porterfield during those years. I left the ship in 1960 as a RD2 (They now call this rate an Operations Specialist I think). Along with my duties in CIC I was also the Postman for the ship during my tour on board.

Years Served: 1962-1965…Was Deck Force then went to Commissary

Years Served: 1943-1945 @ commissioning & shakedown cruise…Proud to have served on this ship.

Years Served: 1954-1955…Hi I was on the Porterfield in 1954-1955 and was in commissary. I would like to hear from anyone that would remember me

Years Served: 1958 to 1960…I came aboard as an SKSN and left two years later as an SK2. Was transferred to the Naval Air Station, Anacosta, DC, where a year and a half later they moved out to Andrews Air Force Base for another year and a half. Was transferred back to the west coast for duty on Mine Sweepers. Shore duty took me to the Navy Recuiting Station in Des Moines, Iowa. After that it was back to the west coast with the Inshore Undersea Warfare Group-1 at Long Beach. It was at IUWG-1 that I made E-7. Then it was on to the USS Camden (AOE-2). My last tour of duty was at the Polaris Material Office, Bremerton, WA. I had my retirement papers submitted when I was informed that I could pick up E-8, but I didn’t feel like I wanted to go back to sea duty. So I retired with 21 years. It’s been 50 years – I’ll have so see if I can find an old cruise book and refresh some old memories.