Billy R. Creager

Bill spent most of his childhood in Hyattsville, Maryland and later settled in Virginia Beach and then Suffolk, Virginia. He also spent many years in Onley on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, though his waterfront home on the Chuckatuck Creek is where he most considered home. This is where he and his wife, Beth raised their two daughters.

Bill is remembered for his sense of adventure, love of the outdoors, willingness to try anything, determination, resilience, perfectionism, commitment to living a vibrant life, and deep love and support of his family. He had an infectious smile, a great sense of humor, and a wild side that he passed on to all three of his kids. He was an avid fisherman who once caught a 1,000-pound blue marlin and later took up rock fishing in and around the Chesapeake Bay. Since moving to Florida in 2020, he shockingly sold his boat in order to focus on golf. He was a member the Sugarmill Woods & Southern Woods Country Club.

He was also a skilled carpenter, woodworker, and handyman. He built a house in Virginia Beach, a garage with a full apartment above it on the Eastern Shore, a dock, and many more impressive projects. He handcrafted treasured wooden toys for his three grandchildren and was working on a gift for one granddaughter within three weeks of his passing. Other hobbies included waterskiing, snow skiing, hiking, kayaking and paddle boarding, playing cards and other games, dancing, and lifelong learning.

Bill began his career as a software programmer and later transitioned into customer support and sales at Honeywell, where he spent 25 years of his career. He later tried his hand at entrepreneurship for a few years and then went back to his roots as a software programmer, training himself on the latest programming languages. He recently said that his secret to success was to stay just one step ahead of the customer. He completed his undergraduate degree in computer science from University of Maryland at age 64.

He was very proud of his three kids, Dr. Christopher Verbin (Hermosa Beach, CA), Kim Creager Mulvaney (Seattle, WA), and Catherine Creager (Toronto, Ontario) and got a lot of joy from becoming a grandfather to Roman Verbin (17), Elizabeth Mulvaney (5), and Annie Rose Novak (2). He is also survived by his partner and high school sweetheart Helen Rowland, son-in-laws Mark Mulvaney and James Novak, several cousins, his aunt Edith Henry, nieces, nephews, and many lifelong friends. He was predeceased by his sister Lyndia Self, father Lyle Creager, mother Lorraine (Simpson) Creager, and wife Beth (McCullough) Creager.

The family will receive local friends of Bill and Helen Monday, December 11, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Macrini - Wilder Funeral Home, 4890 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, Florida 34446. A celebration of life will take place in Suffolk, Virginia at a later date. More details will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Ave, Annapolis, MD 21403, or at www.cbf.org/memorial (include Bill’s name with the donation) or to C.A.S.T. for Kids at https://castforkids.networkforgood.com/projects/214225-kim-creager-mulvaney-s-fundraiser