Thelma Cramer

Thelma F. Cramer, 102, of Chambersburg, PA, passed away Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at Menno Haven. Born March 14, 1911 in Philadelphia, PA, she was a daughter of the late James and Florence Bean Thorpe. She and her late husband, Rev. George Cramer, Jr., who preceded her in death on November 4, 2006, worked together to help establish Camp Bethel, a children’s camp, in Wise, VA, and then established Feasterville Baptist Church in Feasterville, PA where Rev. Cramer served as the church’s first pastor for 16 years. The Cramer’s became involved with Independent Church Missions, assisting others in forming new churches in the Montgomery County area of Pennsylvania. Rev. Cramer then pastored for 10 years at St. Paul’s Evangelical Bible Church in Camden, NJ, relocating the church to Pennsauken, NJ during his tenure. He served for 8 ½ years as the American Director of the RAMABAI MUKTI MISSION in New Jersey. Upon retiring, Rev. and Mrs. Cramer relocated to Hammonton, NJ where they worked as volunteers for 12 years with Camp HA-LU-WA-SA, completing their work in ministry in a children’s camp similar to that which they had helped found early in their lives. The Cramer’s retired to Chambersburg in 1990. Upon moving to Chambersburg, they joined the Chambersburg Bible Church.

She is survived by her daughter, Virginia Wilcox and husband Kenneth of Hillsdale, OK; two sons, Raymond Cramer and wife Meryle of Langhorne, PA, and David Cramer and wife Donna of Augusta, MI, 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Doris Thomas of Cherry Hill, NJ and Allen “Ross” Thorpe of Delaware. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Cramer was preceded in death by a daughter, Marjorie Caldwell; a sister, Lois Jones; and two brothers, James and Gilbert Thorpe.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 19, 2014 in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Road, Chambersburg, PA with Rev. Glenn Kantner officiating. Interment will follow at Parklawns Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from Noon-1:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Camp Bethel Ministries, PO Box 390, Wise, VA 24293-0390, or to Camp HA-LU-WA-SA, 377 Ehrke Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.