Virginia N. Kramer October 9, 1929 - March 23, 2020

Oct. 1929 ~ Mar. 2020

Virginia Norma Kramer was born on October 9, 1929 to Oscar and Clara Haas in New Braunfels, Texas.  She was the youngest of three children and grew up as the “baby” of the family.  She learned to speak both English and German in her family.

Virginia attended the local public schools.  She underwent confirmation at the German Protestant Church in New Braunfels.  While in high school, she met Joseph Kramer at a community-sponsored dance organized for the entertainment of U.S. service personnel stationed in the San Antonio area.

They were mutually “smitten” and, not very long after, they were married on June 5, 1947.  They first lived in New Braunfels, but within a year and a half, moved to Oakland, California where Joseph quickly found work as an electronics technician.  Virginia was a full-time mother and homemaker.  Together, they raised seven children.

Virginia’s faith in God inspired her to strive for perfection in everything she did.  She was a dedicated and loving wife and mother.  She cooked, cleaned, ironed, and sewed clothes, curtains, and more.  She helped her children with their homework, read Bible stories and other books to her children, and much more.

Virginia loved birds and flowers.  She loved to read and served her community as a volunteer at the public library for many years.  She also worked at the polling place for the election board for many years.  She enjoyed gardening and many types of puzzles.  She was a master Scrabble player.  She did pencil drawings.  Later, in retirement, she applied her artistic eye and skill to oil painting.  She gave away most of her paintings to family and friends.

Virginia trusted in Christ Jesus as her Savior and Lord and endeavored to faithfully walk in his steps day by day.  She read the Bible, attended Sunday services faithfully, and prayed for her family and others.  She served her churches in numerous capacities, including Sunday School teacher and visitation ministry.

Although she was prone to car sickness, she enjoyed traveling with Joseph to visit children and grandchildren spread from coast to coast.  Together, they made several cross-country trips that included stops at the children’s homes along the way, as well as multiple Bluegrass Music Festivals and music theme parks.

Virginia loved her role and ministry as mother, grandmother and great grandmother.  Her legacy lives beyond her through her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Virginia suffered a stroke in November of 2018 which left her without the use of her left side.  Since then she lived as a resident of Covenant Care in Turlock, where she continued her ministry of encouragement and friendliness with the workers and her fellow residents.  In the very early hours of Monday, March 23, 2020, the Lord called her home to heaven as she rested quietly in her bed.  She was 90 years, five months, and 14 days old.

She loved many and was loved by many and will be greatly missed by her family and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister Emmy Stevens of Kentucky, and her brother Eugene Haas of Texas. She is survived by Joseph E. Kramer, Jr., her husband of nearly 73 years; her children June (Ron) Gress of Medford, OR, Patricia (John) Holman of College Station, TX, Roland (Elaine) Kramer of Raleigh, NC, Joseph E. (Donna) Kramer III of Vancouver, WA, Laura Sherman of Hemet, CA, Carol (Dennis) Hallam of Alameda, CA and Cheryl (Christopher) Dolan of Livermore, CA; fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.