Hilda McCreight

1920 - 2025

Hilda McCreight

February 12, 1920 - October 28, 2025

The indomitable Hilda McCreight passed away at the age of 105 on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Hilda Louise Horner was born in Meyersdale, Pa., on February 12, 1920, the elder daughter of Meyers and Lucille (Gump) Horner, and moved to Coraopolis, Pa., shortly thereafter, where her sister, Evelyn, joined the family, and her father became the school principal. The family then moved to Washington, Pa., where Meyers became superintendent of schools, and Hilda spent most of her childhood and adult years.

Following in her parents' footsteps, Hilda attended Juniata, a small Church of the Brethren college, before transferring to Carnegie Institute of Technology, where she graduated with a major in home economics.

In June 1942, Hilda married James Carrell McCreight, a fellow Washingtonian, who won her hand in marriage after a persistent, witty, and creative courtship. The newlyweds spent the rest of World War II in Washington, D.C., working at the Pentagon, where Jim was an intelligence officer and Hilda was a nutritionist, and their first child was born.

At war's end, they returned home to Washington, Pa., where Jim completed his law degree and joined the family law firm, and Hilda focused her formidable energy on raising and nurturing their expanding family of four children and a Brazilian exchange student, and nearby grandparents, great aunts, siblings, and cousins.

Hilda was lively, generous, joyfilled, dauntless, and gregarious. She led an active volunteer life, especially at her church, where she taught Sunday school, sang with the entire family in the choir, organized women's circles and after-school tutoring, and served as the church's first woman Elder. She delivered meals to those in need, presided over the hospital auxiliary board, and supervised hospital Candy Stripers.

Believing that travel and exposure to new people and places was educational, Hilda instigated the McCreight family summer camping tradition of month-long excursions throughout the US and Canada. Perhaps that wanderlust is why her descendants are today distributed across nine states and two foreign countries.

After Jim's death in 1999, Hilda moved to Wisconsin to be near her daughter, Peg, and spent her winters in Venice, Fla. In Wisconsin, she lived at Middleton Glen, Vista West, Tabor Oaks, and Agrace Hospice.

Until the time of her death, Hilda remained vibrant, observant, and endlessly curious. She was a Crypto Quote enthusiast and savvy bridge player, and her knowledge of family history was encyclopedic. Hilda's ability to form lifelong friendships, and her faith in God, rooted in her Brethren values of simplicity, peace, and gratitude, were foundational. In Madison, she joined Westminster Presbyterian church, and supported other charitable organizations, including the Heifer Project; Brady: United Against Gun Violence; PBS; and, in response to the senseless murder of her mother, Lucille, the Wisconsin Prison Partnership.

Hilda is survived by her children, Ed (Ursula) McCreight, Peg (Ron) Wallace, Will (Carla) McCreight, and Mac (Marie Manna) McCreight; and her seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of her life and faith will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4100 Nakoma Road on November 22 at 2 p.m. with a visitation from 1 to 2 p.m.

Memorial donations in Hilda's name may be made to the Wisconsin Prison Partnership at First Congregational Church, 1609 University Ave, Madison WI, 53726, or to the charity of your choice.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd Madison

608-238-3434