Lee B. Kramer

Lee B. Kramer May 6, 1933 - April 14, 2014 Lee Bernhardt Kramer, 80, passed away Monday, April 14, 2014, at Kindred Hospital in Ft. Worth, Texas, after a brief illness. Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 18, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Rev. Ron Durham officiating. Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 19, at Pickett Cemetery in Hampton, Arkansas. Visitation will be from 5:00 7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 17, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Lee, the only child of Bonnie George Kramer and Emory Orville Kramer, was born May 6, 1933, in Mercedes, Texas. He graduated from Mercedes High School in 1950. Lee served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean War. He was a graduate of the University of North Texas and was recognized in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. Lee and his wife, Shelba Stratton, met in Eldorado, Arkansas and were married May 17, 1963, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past year. Lee began a 30-year career with the federal government as an intern in Washington D.C. in 1963, eventually moving to Waco, Texas in 1974, where he became Director of the Loan Guarantee Division of the Veteran's Administration. He retired from federal service in 1992. He then busied himself with fishing, gardening and traveling. He loved Hawaii and Lake Tahoe, but was especially drawn to South Padre Island, where he and his family spent several weeks every summer, inviting many friends and relatives to join them. Lee is survived by his wife, Shelba; sons, Matthew Scott Kramer of San Antonio, Texas and Daniel Lee Kramer and wife, Wendy, of Flower Mound, Texas; brothers-in-law, Gary Stratton and wife, Brenda, of Eldorado, Arkansas and Donnie Stratton of Flippin, Arkansas; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Frank Jones, James Bailey, Larry Thornton, Jimmy Martin, Curt Robnett, Melvin Lumpkin, Dr. Scott Blattman, Gary Stratton and Donnie Stratton. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Community Cancer Association or charity of choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.