Creal Champion was born in the small town of Daisy, Arkansas on August 11th, 1921. He was one of seven children in his family. At an early age, the family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma. At the tender age of 11, Creal began his working career selling newspapers outside of the Ardmore Hotel. In 1935, the family moved across country and settled in Inglewood, California, where Creal continued to sell newspapers.
At the outbreak of World War II, Creal and his brothers all signed up for the Navy, and Creal was stationed in the Pacific.
When the war was over, Creal returned to California where he met and married Virginia Cappellanti on June 11, 1950. On May 31st, 1955, Creal became a proud father to twins Robert and Ralph, and subsequently daughter Catherine on December 5th, 1957.
Creal studied at the Southwestern Law Center for three years before being hired by Los Angeles County where he worked as a Title Engineer for thirty-three years until his retirement.
Creal’s wife passed away after thirty-eight years of marriage. Just over three years later, he wed Joan Strohschein with whom he remained married for twenty-four years until her passing in 2016.
At the age of 92, Creal and Joan moved to Las Vegas, where Creal enjoyed the remainder of his twilight years until his passing on Sunday, September 27th, 2020, with his son, Ralph, at his side.
Creal enjoyed traveling, loved college football, fishing and was an avid golf player, winning trophies and achieving ‘a hole in one’ a couple of times.
He is survived by his three children, Ralph, Catherine, Robert and his wife, Elizabeth; his three grandchildren, Katie, Matthew, Sarah and her husband, Todd; and his great-grandson, Ezra.
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I was so proud and honored to have you as my father. You truly walked the walk. I miss you, Dad. You’ll be forever in my heart. – Your loving son, Ralph.
Grandpa, you were a class act, and I’m grateful to have spent so much time with you. Thanks for all the memories. I’m grateful that you had such a full life, with loving family around you until the end.
Dad, how blessed I was to have a father with such impeccable character and humility and to love my mom the way a man should love a wife. Sometimes words are not enough to express gratitude but I am certain you are the best father any daughter could ever have. Give mom a great big hug for me and please watch over us always. Love, Catherine 🍀
Pops. You will always be in my heart. Love Robert.
Pops, I will always love you. Love Robert.
Creal – A true gentleman and a class act. Thank you for being my friend and acting like a second father these past thirty years. I enjoyed the many times we spent and memories made – especially these last six months when we played Rummikub, word games , revisited photo albums and shared our thoughts and experiences during the many hours in the courtyard. I will miss you.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful dad with me for the past several years! Creal was the ultimate gentleman and one of the greatest generation. I will miss you with all of my heart!! Love, Valerie and Steve
Uncle Creal, I remember you as a quiet gentle man; always genuinely polite, and with a loving heart. You had a remarkably long gentle life. What I remember from long ago is you and Aunt Gina. I hope your souls have a few cosmic dances. I know how much my cousin Ralph adored you and how devoted a son he was. You were blessed to have each other. I love you Ralph, Robert and Cathy and hope you can find peace as Uncle Creal has. Blessings, to Creal’s soul eternal xox
Creal- E and I are so blessed to have known you. You will live in our hearts forever. What a wonderful person you are , have fun with your creature and all your friends. Missing you
I would look forward to Creal stories while I was cutting his hair.He always would ask me how I was doing and my Family .A true Gentleman He will me miss Rest in Peace
Throughout his whole life I never heard my uncle Creal say one bad word about …ANYONE…. family, friend or complete strangers….including people he had never met, How many people can say that? He was happy and cheerful till the end and certainly deserved to pass that way of anybody ever did. If he is not in heaven….. no one is…
Creal was one of the sweetest, dearest men I’ve known. I loved sitting in the courtyard at Oakmont with him watching the airplanes overhead and eating ice cream or some other goodie being served that day. Everytime I will see a gentleman in a beautiful sweater, I will think of Creal in his. I know, Creal, you are a favorite among the angels, just as you were with all that knew you here on earth.
“How ya doing, honey?” Creal’s perpetual, quiet question each time we met, always followed by a gentle pat on my hand – nothing provocative, or flirtatious, just his loving way of acknowledging me and the valué he had for our brief friendship.
He was a sweet, kind soul who shyly smiled at everyone, and never fussed, cussed or mussed things up.
Enjoy Heaven, my friend. You earned it.
Creal, a true Gentleman, and I was blessed to have you in my life.
Creal I, enjoyed all times we spent together
Creal, you will always be close to my heart, Maria
Creal was a rare and incredible man. He was a gentlemen, father, family man and friend. His legacy will live on in our hearts forever.
Creal, you will be remembered by so many of us and loved always.
Thank you for being in our lives and adding so much in your special way.
The pictures meant a lot to me
See you in heaven.
Jane and Michelle
Creal, you were loved by many and you will always be remembered.The
pictures were special. You were a kind dear man.
See you in heaven.
Jane and Michelle
Grandpa, you were a class act, and I’m grateful to have spent so much time with you. Thanks for all the memories. I’m grateful that you had such a full life, with loving family around you until the end.
My last dance with Creal. It was so special. I had promised to come over for his 100th birthday, but sadly it was not to be.
Creal was the epitome of a Gentleman, a man with graces and manners of a bygone era, and as a great father he passed these attributes on to his children. We thank you.
Well lived Creal, a span of 99 years, now at rest..
With love SUE
Dad, your grandson Matthew and I are thinking of you this morning at your Graveside Memorial June 22nd, and we are so happy you will be with grandma/mom Virginia Champion there. You were and still are the best standard of a father and man who led by example. “Those we love don’t go away. They walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.” We love you Dad and Grandpa. Catherine and Matthew Lulofs☘
Love you Uncle Creal. Will always miss you.