Joseph Riggs Creighton, 93, passed away at the Hospice of Volusia/Flagler in Port Orange, FL on February 2, 2013. Joe resided in Florida since1976 after relocating to Indialantic from Cleveland, OH. He spent 20 years in the Melbourne area before moving to Port Orange in 2002.
Joe was born January 5, 1920 in Canton, China to Dr. John Wallis and Lois Creighton. He was the youngest of five children and spent the first six years of his life living in China where his father worked as a Presbyterian missionary and founded the "True Light School”, China's first female secondary school.
After returning to the United States he lived in Hastings, Nebraska and Wooster, OH before attending Oberlin College where he graduated magna cum laude in 1941. While attending Harvard Law School, Joe took military leave to serve in the US Army during World War II. After the War, he returned to Harvard, served on the Harvard Law Review and graduated in 1948. He then moved his family to the San Francisco Bay Area where he began a private law practice and was active in local and state politics. He served as President of the Young Republicans of California in1954, and was a founding member of the Orinda Community Church.
Joe was recruited by General Electric and left litigation law for corporate law where he had a long and successful career. He went on to serve as Assistant General Counsel at Raytheon at which time he was responsible for negotiating the first major missile systems for Saudi Arabia.
Joe was with Harris Corporation of Melbourne from 1968 to 1991. He was in the role of Vice President, General Counsel from 1968 until his first retirement in 1985. He stayed on in the role of VP, Senior Legal Advisor until his final retirement in 1991, at one point serving as interim General Counsel for an extended period.
After retiring he moved to Port Orange with his cherished companion, Dorothy Crane, and shared many years with her, her daughters and their families. Joe’s passion was figuring things out, whether it was the best way to grow tomatoes or how to make a new invention. His curiosity and search for the truth stimulated those around him to think and explore ideas. Many an evening has been spent sharing dinner and debating into the night. Joe’s powerful intellect coupled with his down to earth approach to life enriched the lives of those privileged to be near him.
Joe leaves behind his son Jack Creighton and, wife, Lisa of Cohasset, Massachusetts; granddaughter Alexandra Creighton and, husband, Anthony Nemirovsky of Alameda, CA; granddaughter Kristin Creighton and, husband, Dan Asaro of Brooklyn, NY; his son Richard Creighton of Framingham, MA; his daughter-in-law Heather Creighton, of Marin County, CA; granddaughter Holly and, husband, Andrew Kelly of Fairfield, CA; granddaughter Robin and, husband, Tad Ravazzini, of Mill Valley CA; five cherished great grandchildren; his companion and friend, Dorothy Crane, whom he shared 20 years with; Dorothy's daughters Kathleen Tarnow (Jerry), Marisa Crane, son Fred Crane (Cathy); Dorothy's grandchildren, Tobie Helms (Adam), Ty Tarnow, Olivia Crane and great grandchildren, Cannon and Paige Tarnow and Avery Helms. Joe was preceded in death by his son, Howard Creighton, and second wife Claire Creighton.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 7th at 1:00 in the Chapel at the Hospice of Volusia /Flagler at 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL; followed by burial ceremonies at Volusia Memorial Park. The family is welcome to take the Memorial Walk with Joe at the Hospice prior to the Service.
Flower donations may be sent to Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 4815 Clyde Morris Blvd, Port Orange, FL 32129. Or in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler.
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