Edward Francis Kramer

December 21, 1929 - March 3, 2015
Col. Edward Francis Kramer, Jr., USAFMC (Ret), passed away on March 3rd, 2015 at age 85. He was born on Dec. 21st, 1929, in LeCompte, LA to Edward Kramer, Sr. and Viola Mae Shows Kramer. He was predeceased by his parents and his brother-in-law Raynold Loewer. He is survived by his son, Edward Kramer, III and wife, Kelly; daughter, Rebecca Bradley and husband, Jeff; sister, Rheba Mitchell and husband, Farris; sister, Lynette Loewer; grandchildren, Tanner and Kendall Bradley.
Dr. Kramer graduated from Louisiana State University, where, in his senior year, he served as the first Sr. Cadet Colonel of both the USAF and Army ROTC. He went on to accept a direct commission in the USAF and served as a fighter pilot in Japan and Guam. He temporarily left the USAF in the late 1950's to attend LSU Medical School and after receiving his M.D. degree in 1963, he re-entered the USAF as a Flight Surgeon and served the remainder of his military career as one of few pilot-physicians in the USAF. In 1964, he participated in a world record setting endurance flight, a feat that resulted in his guest appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed in Thailand, where he acted as both a Flight Surgeon and flew air missions. Upon returning from Thailand, he completed a residency in Aerospace Medicine and received a Masters of Public Health from University of CA at Berkeley.
He was considered an expert in high altitude flight, flight endurance and human factors in the cockpit. As a USAF representative, he worked with a major aircraft manufacturer on the design of a new fighter plane, making significant contributions to the project. He was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal upon his retirement from the USAF in 1977, after 27 years of service. Soon after, he began a second career as a Private Practice and Occupational Medicine Physician. After several years in Family Practice in San Antonio, he assumed Medical Director positions at DuPont and Union Carbide in Texas and Martin Marietta Aerospace in Orlando, FL. After retiring fully in 1988, he had more time to enjoy his hobbies of boating, traveling and camping in his Airstream trailer. He was an avid reader, chess player and, in retirement, became an ardent foodie and excellent cook.
He spent most of his retirement years in Florida until his health began to fail in 2014, when he moved back to San Antonio to be closer to family.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE AND INURNMENT
WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015
9:30 A.M.
FORT SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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