Grover Creech was born on April 1, 1926, to Joseph Haywood Creech and Zilphia Abi Creech as the eighth of ten siblings on a farm outside Kenly, North Carolina. After graduating from Glendale High School in the spring of 1944, and helping with necessary farm work for a year, Grover began Army basic training in1944. After basic training, Grover was deployed to Germany. He remained in Germany until the end of the war.
Grover returned home and worked on the family farm for a year before moving to Greensboro, NC to attend watch-making school. After a brief stint as a watchmaker, he moved to Chapel Hill to attend pharmacy school at the University of North Carolina. He remained a true-blue Tar Heel all of his life. On March 27, 1948, Grover married Ruby Irene Stancil and their marriage lasted 70 years until her death in 2018.
After pharmacy school, Grover moved to Selma, NC and joined his brother Joe Creech as pharmacist at Creech Drug Company. That same year he helped organize and was the first president of the Johnston County Pharmacy Association. When industries began locating in Johnston County, housing was needed for families. Grover, with his brother-in-law Curtis Johnson founded J and C Homes Company building homes and medical facilities to welcome newcomers and help our community thrive. In 1967 Grover moved his family to Smithfield and opened Medical Center Pharmacy with Marshall Sasser. He worked with the hospital administrator in recruiting medical professionals to serve our area. In 2002 Grover and Ruby together received the prestigious M. Fearing award for life-long community pharmacy service. The NC Association of Pharmacy also recognized his devoted service for more than fifty years. Throughout his career he was always there to serve his customers, support the local doctors, and encourage young pharmacy professionals.
Grover has always believed in the importance of church and community service. He loved his church and church family starting as a child at Creech’s Church. As a member of Selma Baptist and Sharon Baptist he was active in serving and supporting others. In Smithfield as in Selma he was an active member of the Kiwanis Club. Being a Kiwanian was very special to Grover. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club since 1948 and embraced everything about the club. He served in leadership roles and enjoyed working on projects that the club supported.
After retiring he was ready to really enjoy golf and the many friendships it afforded him. Traveling with the NC Senior Golf Association, taking trips with friends, and playing at local courses always yielded stories to tell. You may have heard the stories of his hole-in-one experiences. Another special group he looked forward to spending time with was his friends at the Amen Corner. Throughout his life he worked hard, played hard, and loved his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ruby Stancil Creech.
His surviving family members are Children: Phillip Haywood Creech and wife Rebekah, Marcia Creech Parks and husband Gary, Byron Grover Creech and wife Tammy, Lucia Creech Washam and Husband Bill; Grandchildren: Wayne Lewis Colley II, Christopher Sean Colley, Sr. and wife Dawn, Jennifer Parks Haiducek and husband Dale, Justin Howard Parks, Christopher Graham Creech and wife Katy. Matthew Cameron Creech and soon to be wife Kate, William Russell Washam III and wife Caroline, Kevin Joseph Washam and wife Jess; Great-Grandchildren: Christopher Sean Colley, Jr., Sharon Nichole Colley, Hudson Ruby Haiducek, Vance Howard Haiducek, Harper Ann Creech, Mason Davis Washam; Sister: Rosa Creech Pittman; Many nieces and nephews; Long-time caregiver Kim Thompson. Thank you Kim!
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army. Mail checks to The Salvation Army P.O. Box 805 Smithfield, NC 27577. On the memo line specify in memory of Grover Creech.
