E. Linwood Creel

E. Linwood "Lin" Creel, Jr, 91 of Vermilion, died Thursday, April 10, 2008 at his home, after a lengthy illness. He was born February 2, 1917 in Morgantown, WV and moved to the Cleveland area when he graduated from West Virginia University with a B.A. in 1938. He attended Spenserian College for a year while working as a sales agent for Kingscraft Book Cover Company. He worked as an industrial agent for the Nickel Plate Railroad for 4 years. He was the volunteer President of Friends of the Land during this period, a Cleveland conservation group, as part of the Cleveland Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1941- 43, Mr. Creel was designated 4-F when trying to enlist by five branches of the armed service, including the draft board. As a result, he worked for 2 years at the Cleveland Diesel Engine plant. He moved to Vermilion in 1948 and was employed by Burkhardt Construction Co. He was the co-founder of Firelands Floors in 1960 retiring in 1979. He was a 50 year member of the United Church of Christ Congregational, Vermilion where he was building committee chairman of the present edifice built in 1957. He was active in the choir , bell choir, and financial secretary for 21 years. He also served as building chairman of the UCC-sponsored Firelands Retirement Centers in Lorain and Oberlin. Lin served on the Vermilion School board for 2 terms, was a 50-year member of Ely Masonic Lodge # 424 in Vermilion, and was a member of Lorain's Senior Men's Fellowship Club. He enjoyed bridge and golf, operating his Ford farm tractor, painting the house, landscaping, a good joke and especially taking care of his family. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elaine (nee Kinsman); 4 daughters, Judith Gutman of Amherst, Lynne (Robert) Svec of Eastbrook, Maine, Patricia Creel and Diane Creel of Vermilion, 2 granddaughters, Paula Orchowski and Kimberly Svec; 5 grandsons, Carl Gutman, Todd Gutman, Daren Gutman, David Svec and Dan Svec; and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, John Svec in 1983; a brother, Robert Creel in 1984; a sister, Hilda Liljegren in 2007 and his parents, Elmer and Leila (nee Pocock) Creel. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at 11 am at the United Church of Christ Congregational Church 990 State Street, Vermilion. The Reverends Wendell Brooker, pastor, and Louis Bertoni will co-officiate. Contributions may be made to the United Church of Christ Congregational Building Fund, 990 State Street P.O. Box 228, Vermilion, Ohio 44089