Rex Creighton

Rex J. Creighton, age 85, went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday, September 19, 2020, with family by his side. He had looked forward to seeing his Savior, his family and numerous friends for many years.

Rex was born on November 9, 1934 in Sebewa Township, MI, and raised on what was later named a Michigan Centennial Farm. His parents were Arthur and Esther (McNeil) Creighton. His mother died of leukemia when he was young and his father later married Elfa Meyers.
Rex attended a one-room schoolhouse, down the dirt road from the farm. He heard the radio announcement about Pearl Harbor and his father said, "The world is not going to be the same again." Rex and his classmates collected milkweed pods to be used in life preservers for sailors, basically wiping out milkweed plants in the area. He developed a strong sense of patriotism and was grateful that they never went hungry. He learned about hard work, keeping your word, being honest, and doing a good job while on the farm.

He met Virginia Mae McCaul during High School in Lake Odessa, MI. Rex was a friend of Virginia's older brothers, Ben and Bob, and had to ask their permission to ask her out! They were married November 15th, 1953, and had 53 years together until she went to Heaven in 2005.
During High School, he developed an interest in welding and building items to help farmers. He also developed a tilt board to assist a friend who had difficulty from polio to do exercises. Rex attempted to obtain a U.S. Patent, but for unknown reasons did not complete the process.
Rex was farming when they were married, but took a job at the local hardware store when they were blessed with three girls. He also installed barn cleaners for Starline. Badger Northland farm machinery hired him to sell their products and the family moved to Lansing, MI. His hard work brought a moved to Appleton, WI for a year before he was transferred to Liverpool, NY to help expand the company.
After being Branch Manager a number of years, Badger asked him to be their Northeast Territorial Manager. Traveling continued with his next job with Cannon Ball Building Hardware. Tiring of the 22-States-plus-Ontario-and-Quebec travel, he developed and managed U-Stow-It, the first self-storage business in Central New York. He retired at age 79.

Rex was a stockholder and served as treasurer on the board of directors of Syracuse's first Christian radio station, WMHR. He was treasurer of the Self-Storage Association of NYS for a number of years. At North Syracuse Baptist Church, where he attended since coming to the Syracuse area in 1967, he was a Trustee during the years of constructing the new sanctuary. He was known for attention to details, common sense, and dedication. He will be remembered for his beautiful smile.

Over the years, Rex had a number of interests: visiting relatives in MI; High School reunions; camping and boating; snowmobiling, ice skating and cross-country skiing; traveling to visit friends; traveling to FL, Jamaica, and HI won from hard work with Badger; and flying to Siesta Key to visit Lola, Bob, Zack and Evan. He faithfully visited people in the hospital and nursing homes over the years.

He was an amateur ham radio operator for over 50 years, his last call sign being "W2DUI." Rex especially enjoyed their trailer in the 1000 Islands (he didn't have a phone there!), going to the Adirondacks to visit friends in the Old Forge area, and loved Camp-of-the-Woods in Speculator, NY. He did handyman volunteer work at COTW, High Braes Refuge in Redfield, NY, ARISE at the Farm in Chittenango, and New Tribes Mission in Sanford, FL.
Rex showed his true entrepreneurial spirit all of his life, sometimes running three businesses at once. He helpful, a hard worker, always willing to serve others, honest, and never sued anyone. Later in life he would say, "I've always done what others couldn't, or wouldn't." Other favorite statements Rex used were, "If it's to be, it's up to me!" and "If you do something, do it right the first time!" and, "Plan your work and work your plan!"

On the back of his business cards was stamped the following words of wisdom:
GOT A PROBLEM TO SOLVE? ASK YOURSELF:
1. What is the problem? ____________________
2. What is causing the problem? ____________
3. What are all the solutions for this problem?
_____________ ______________ ____________
4. What is the best solution? ________________
THEN ACT!!!
Rex Creighton

Rex was predeceased by: his parents, Arthur and Esther (McNeil) Creighton; his son, Paul J. Creighton; his brother, Kenneth Carl Creighton; his stepmother, Elfa (Meyers) Creighton; his beloved wife, Virginia (McCaul) Creighton; and his brother, Fredrick Creighton.
He will be lovingly remembered by his three daughters: Louise Esther Creighton of Clay, NY; Laura Jane (Daniel) Schroth of Clay, NY; and Lola Ann Creighton and husband, Robert Glantz, of Sarasota, FL.
Rex is survived by three grandchildren: Zachary Creighton Glantz (Clinton Randall) of Philadelphia, PA; Evan Creighton Glantz (Mary) of LasVegas, NV; and Danae Elizabeth Schroth of Baldwinsville, NY. Rex's illness over the last six years prevented him from enjoying his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren: Finnley Vada Glantz and Maizey Ace Glantz of LasVegas, NV; and Dexter Randall Glantz of Philadelphia, PA. Rex leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and longtime friends.

A celebration of Rex's life will be held at The Gathering Place (known to Rex as "North Syracuse Baptist Church") on Tuesday, September 29th with doors opening at 1:30P.M. The memorial service will begin at 2:00P.M. NYS COVID rules will be followed with temperatures checked at the door, social distancing, and masks. New Comer Cremations & Funerals in North Syracuse is handling arrangements for the family.

Burial will take place in Lakeside Cemetery, Lake Odessa, MI next to the graves of his wife, Virginia, and son, Paul. At this point, arrangements are incomplete, but will be updated on the Koops Funeral Home website in Lake Odessa, MI, along with COVID guidelines.

A gift in Rex's memory can be made to one of the following organizations: Mars Hill Network, 4044 Maykes Road, Syracuse, NY 13215; The Gathering Place at NSBC, 420 South Main Street, North Syracuse, NY 13212; or High Braes Refuge, 196 Waterbury Road, Redfield, NY 13437.To share a memory of Rex or leave a special message for Rex's family, please visit the guestbook below.