Creger, Ralph 1914-2004

CREGER, JONES, HOBSTEADER

Posted By: Barbara Hug (email)
Date: 3/15/2005 at 08:28:32

Newton [IA] Daily News, Tuesday, November 23, 2004

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. -- Ralph Creger, 90, of Rock Island, Ill., formerly of Monroe, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at Trinity Hospital in Rock Island, Ill.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Walters-Coburn Funeral Home in Monroe, where the family will greet friends from 2 p.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be in Silent City Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to The Quad Cities YWCA in Rock Island, Ill.

The son of Walter and Nellie Creger, he was born Oct. 30, 1914, in Monroe. He attended Monroe public schools, Central College in Pella and Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kan. He was a former member of Calvary Baptist Church of Little Rock, Ark., where he served as deacon and also was a member of the Village Presbyterian Church of Overland Park, Kan. He was employed by the Rock Island Railroad for 35 years and retired from the position of chief train dispatcher. Mr. Creger re-entered the work force as field agent for the Federal Equal Opportunity Office in Washington, D.C. He married Barbara June Jones in 1941 and later married Virginia Hobsteader in 1981.

Mr. Creger authored six books on various topics and is best known for his works "This is What We Found" and "Train Power." He was a life-long advocate for the rights of minorities and the elderly. He was a basketball enthusiast both as a player and a fan, often driving several hours to see a game. Mr. Creger enjoyed cats and strawberry pie.

Survivors include his sons and daughters-in-law, Carl and Lesley Creger of Rock Island, Ill., and Jerry Creger of Seattle, Wash.; two grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Virginia and his sister Helen. His former wife of 26 years, Barbara Richey, resides in East Moline, Ill.