Creighton Lamar Lytle MD

August 19, 1922 – January 22, 2023

Creighton Lamar Lytle of Beaverton, Oregon passed away at the age of 100 on January 22, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born in Minersville, PA, which he called “God’s country.” He was the only child of Stanley and Florence (Confair) Lytle. Growing up, he loved the outdoors and used to roam the hills and woods near his home. He cared for injured pigeons at home which he found at a nearby gun club and doctored them back to health. He would whistle for them as he walked home from school, and they would fly to meet him. Creighton was known for his whistling his whole life. His friends called him “Streak” as he ran the 220-yard dash and the mile relay at Minersville High School.

He attended Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA majoring in Biology and Chemistry. After deciding he wanted to study medicine, he graduated in 1944 with a degree in Biology and was accepted at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He worked nights and weekends in the hospital lab where he met his future wife Mary Jane Varker who was studying Medical Technology. They married in 1946.

After graduating from Jefferson in 1948, he interned at St Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem. Creighton setup a practice in Sunbury, PA where their first child Nelson was born in 1950. He joined the Air Force in 1951 and served at West Point Hospital in Newburgh, NY where daughter Beverly was born in 1953.

Creighton and Mary Jane then moved to Broomall, PA where he setup a family medical practice. He was also employed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for 21 years as an industrial physician where he became the senior medical officer. Douglas was born in 1956 and Creighton II in 1960. Creighton retired from private practice in 1991.

Education, faith, hard work, and the importance of family were especially important to Creighton and Mary Jane. They sent all their children to college and most of their grandchildren earned college degrees. There are many advanced degrees in the family. Coming from humble beginnings, Creighton worked hard for the family and instilled in his children that education was key. His hobbies included hiking, camping, computer, singing (often with May Jane accompanying him on the piano), and traveling. As a family, Mary Jane, Creighton and the children would go camping at National Parks all over the country.

His loving wife Mary Jane predeceased him in 2013. Youngest son Creighton II and grandson Jared were tragically lost in 1981 and 2012. Creighton is survived by his son Nelson Lytle and wife Lydia Lasichak, daughter Beverly Thomas and husband Barry, son Douglas Lytle and wife Carolyn, grandchildren Rachel, Joshua C, Andrew, Nicholas, Amy, Julie, Joshua S, Jonathan, Rebecca, Logan, fifteen great-grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends.