Clair D. Kramer

Clair D. Kramer, aged 82, of Kutztown, passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at Halifax Medical Center in Port Orange, FL. He was married to Edna A. (Heydt) Kramer since November 17, 1962.

A native of Kutztown, Clair was the son of the late Irwin J. and Catherine A. (Bieber) Kramer and graduated from Kutztown Area High School in 1960. Following high school, he began his career at Earl Smith Plumbing and Roofing, where he advanced to the position of lead plumber and oil burner installer. In 1965, he joined Metropolitan Edison Electric Company (Met-Ed) as a Lineman, dedicating 37 years to the company, ultimately serving as a Line Foreman until his retirement in 2002. Throughout his tenure at Met-Ed, Clair consistently answered the call to work during storms to restore power to Met-Ed customers, traveling along the East Coast to support affected areas. He was also a member of the Met-Ed crew involved in the Three Mile Island clean-up, often reflecting on his experiences of working long hours in protective gear within the reactor.

Clair's diverse skill set made him an exceptional handyman, proficient in plumbing, heating, electrical work, carpentry, and auto repair. If someone needed something fixed they knew to reach out to Clair, who would be sure to help.

His passion for auto repair blossomed into a cherished hobby of restoring classic cars and street rods. Clair enjoyed attending car shows, where he admired others' vehicles and formed friendships with fellow car enthusiasts. His restoration projects garnered numerous awards, but the camaraderie he experienced was more important to him.

A devoted NASCAR fan, Clair attended the Daytona 500 for over 50 consecutive years, starting in the late 1960s, making this annual trip to Florida a significant tradition in his life. Clair was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Kutztown, serving on the property committee. He was also a long-standing member of the Kutztown Lions Club for over 50 years, receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship award. His affiliations included Huguenot Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M., Kutztown, Rajah Shrine, Reading Consistory, Lyons Fire Company, and Met-Ed Retirees, as well as recognition as an Outstanding Young Man Medal of Valor in November 1976 and an EMT with Kutztown Ambulance in the mid 1970's.

Clair is survived by his wife, Edna, and their two daughters, Molly S. (Kramer), married to Jeffrey Ebling of Kutztown, and Jennifer A. (Kramer), married to John Coburn of Johns Island, SC. He also leaves behind three grandchildren, Elyse, Aaron, and Alyson, along with four great-grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Faye R. (Kramer), married to Earl W. Leiby of Kutztown, and his brother, Dale J. Kramer, engaged to Marianne B. Gehris of Kutztown. He was predeceased by his sister, Jean L. (Reidenhour) Boyer in 2021.

A masonic service by Huguenot Lodge No. 377 F. & A. M., Kutztown, followed by a memorial service to celebrate and honor Clair's life and burial in Hope Cemetery, Kutztown, will be held privately by his family. His brother-in-law, Vicar Jeremiah T. Heydt will officiate. 

The family requests memorial contributions be made in Clair's memory to St. John's Lutheran Church, 201 E. Main Street, Kutztown, PA 19530 or Shriners Children's Hospital, Attn: Shriners Children's Processing Center, PO Box 947765, Atlanta, GA 30394 or online at www.shrinerschildrens.org.

Ludwick Funeral Homes and Cremation Care, Inc., Kutztown, PA, is in charge of arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.Ludwickfh.com.