Obituary of Ruth West Creel

Mary Ruth West Creel was born on September 10, 1934, to Artie Corabell (Baugus) West and Garnet Roosevelt West. She was welcomed to the family of three boys, Edward, Russell, and Folger. Ruth was the first girl. followed by Bonnie and Louise. Then came along Larry to finish out the West family living on the "Home Place," a farm in Elkin, N.C.

Ruth being the oldest girl, learned to cook at an early age. She also helped look after her younger siblings. She taught school briefly in the area. While attending Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia, she met “Sonny" (Lynwood Franklin Creel, Jr.) from Durham, NC. They were married, June 4, 1955. Lynwood and Ruth Creel had their first child, Beverly Dawn, on June 1, 1956. They moved from Durham, NC to Danville, VA, a few months later when Lynwood accepted a position as a Minister of Music and Christian Education at the First Pentecostal Holiness Church on Main Street. During this time, Melody Lynn was born on August 1, 1959. Last was the only boy, Lynwood Franklin Creel, III, born August 13, 1962. The family moved to Memphis, TN three months later when Lynwood became the Minister of Music/Christian Education director for Lamar Ace Pentecostal Holiness Church. Ruth was active in teaching Children’s Church, Women’s Auxiliary, directing church camps, and other activities. They later attended Willow Oaks Church, where Ruth opened and was director of Peter Pan Daycare Center.

They moved to Roanoke, VA in November of 1977, at the request of Walter L. Wood and church members of New Life Temple. Lynwood was the Minister of Music and Administrative Assistant, and Ruth started a daycare center as a ministry of the church. They loved and enjoyed the people of New Life. Lynwood and Ruth joined New Covenant Ministries in May of 1983 in Vinton. Ruth kept children in the home preschool. Lynwood worked for Elizabeth Arden. They both retired and enjoyed living in their home in Roanoke. In more recent years, they attended Brentwood Baptist Church on Plantation Road with son Lynwood and his wife Sheila (Davis) Creel. Pastor Rodney Speers and wife Rebekah, along with the church family welcomed them and cared for them whenever they were able to attend.

Ruth came under the care of Good Samaritan Hospice on Saturday, June 30th, 2018. She went to be with Jesus on Monday, July 9th, 2018, surrounded by her children, Beverly, Melody, and Lynwood III holding her hands, speaking words of gratitude, thanks, and love, and listening to songs that were sung long ago. Her granddaughter, Meredith Ruth, had just sent a song to her Papa and Nana, “My Beloved.” This was played over and over several times until she took Jesus up on his offer to “Come away with me, my love.”

Ruth loved Jesus, her home, and all the many friends, as well as all the children she cared for throughout her life. Anyone raised under her care knew her left-handed snap, and raised eyebrow were signs one better “straighten-up.’ They also knew that meant she loved them enough to expect the best for them. Ruth will be returned to her “homeplace” of Elkin, NC and be buried in the Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with family members who preceded her in death.

Monday July, 9th, was a day that Mary Ruth (West) Creel had looked forward to her whole life. Now she sees Jesus face to face!

Ruth is survived by her husband Lynwood Franklin Creel, Jr.; their children Beverly (Creel) Light and husband Rev. Marcus Light of Rolla, Kansas; Melody (Creel) Miller and her husband Jeff Miller of Yukon, Oklahoma; Lynwood Franklin Creel, III and wife Sheila of Roanoke, Virginia. Ruth is also survived by sisters, Bonnie (West) Minter and husband Charles; Louise (West) Lane and husband Keith of Lexington, NC/Clovis, CA; two brothers Edward West of Black Mountain, NC and Larry West and wife Wanda of Elkin, NC. She is also survived by grandchildren Whitney (Light) Stilwell and husband Larry and their two children, Sloane and Shayne of Norman, Oklahoma; Steffan Light and wife Tara of Norman, Oklahoma; Lyndsay (Light) Sprecher and husband Dillyn of Yukon, Oklahoma; Meredith Ruth Light of Yukon, Oklahoma; Alicia (Miller) Cargill and husband, Derek and their three children Tinsley, Palmer, and Brinkley of Edmond, Oklahoma; Andrea (Miller) Musser and husband, Hunter of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Heather Creel and husband, Matthew Morgan of Richmond, VA

Services will be held at Brentwood Baptist Church on Thursday, July 12, at 2:00 pm, with the Rev. Rodney Spears and the Rev. Walter L. Wood, officiating. Flowers may be sent to: Brentwood Baptist Church 3912 Plantation Rd. Roanoke, VA 24012 540.366.7088 OR  Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Rd. Roanoke, VA 24019 540.366.0707 This will be a closed-casket funeral at the request of the family, but you are welcome to visit Lynwood (Sonny) and family members before the service.