Richard Dale (Dick) Cramer, 78, of Midland, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, February 5, 2003. Dick was born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 22, 1924 to Dale and Hazel Cramer. He was raised in Kansas City, Missouri and Siox Falls, South Dakota. At the outbreak of World War II he enlisted in the US Army Airforce and served as a navigator and radar man in the 8th Airforce with the 466th Bomb Group in Elkenburg, England and with 458th Bomb Group in Norich, England flying B-24's. His crew was shot down in Belgium in 1945. He married Joan Patricia Hanson on September 10, 1945 in Boca Raton, Florida. He was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Lieutenant and was recalled in 1951 for the Korean Conflict. He obtained a B.S. degree in Geological Enginerring from South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City, South Dakota in 1949. Following graduation, he worked 2 years for Oliver Iron Mining Company in Eveleth, Minnesota. In 1952 he was hired as a geoligist for Shell Oil in Oklahoma City, Okalahoma and in 1963 he became a consulting geologist in Oklahoma City. While there he was active iin the Oklahoma City Geological Society, serving as Co-Editor for Volume I of The Oil Fields of Oklahoma. From 1963 until 1965 he was an idependent geologist, until taking a position with J.M. Huber in Amarillo, Texas. In 1971 he was transferred to Midland as District Geologist, and was later promoted to Exploration Manager. In 1977 went to work for Hytech Energy which was purchased by Moran and later Kaneb Exploration. He served as District Geologist and Exploration Manager until 1989 when Kaneb transferred the Midland office to Houston. He was a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, South Texas Geological Society, Oklahoma Geological Society, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and the West Texas Geological Society. He was a Delegate for the Southwest Section of AAPG. He was an owner in International Travel and Cruise from 1985 until 2001. Dick was a member of First Baptist Church of Midland. Richard Cramer was survived by the family he dearly loved including his wife, Joan Cramer, and his six children, Scott Cramer and his wife Debbie, Roger Cramer, Nancy Loyd and her husband Terry all of Midland, Walt Cramer and his wife Terrie of Abilene, Wade Cramer and his wife Ann, Robin Farris and her husband Barry all of McKinney and his 11 grandchildren, Brian & Jeff Cramer, Blake Loyd, Caitlin & Courtney Cramer, Leah, Ken, Karen, & Alysen Cramer, and Brent & Lindsey Farris. The family wishes to express thanks to Skip Hedgepeth and Home Hospice, Dr. R.P. Sarva, Dr. Shelton Viney, Dr. Brian Mohr, and Dr. Michael Miller. Pallbearers: Laddie Long, Lewis Burleson, Victor Brown, Jimmy Mowles, Jerry Covington, and Bill Morrison. Honorary Pallbeaers: Chester Brown, the Wednesday golf group, the remaining members of the 466th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force-Mel Westbrook, Dutch Roche and Dick Chapdelaine. The family is requesting the memorials be sent to Hospice House Foundation, Inc., 903 N. Sam Houston, Odessa, Texas 79761. Graveside services will be held Saturday, February 8, 2003 at 11:00 am at Resthaven Memorial Park. A memorial service has been scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2003 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Midland. Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory.,
