Gordon Cramer

Written by Gordon Cramer Published on Wednesday, 18 June 2008 21:48 Last updated on Monday, 20 April 2009 17:28

Gordon Dean Cramer

You should have been there! Where? Why, Roots Crossing in Antis Township, the Borough of Bellwood, Blair County, PA, on November 4, 1937. That’s when I was born -- and in the home my Dad built! I don’t remember, but my brother, Bob, said the walls were not even finished on the inside.

I was a little over 2 years old when daddy moved us to Niagara Falls, NY, for a job there. About 1942, the farm on Chestnut Street in East Wilson was bought and we moved to the country. Now that was great! Wilson Central was our school clear up to graduation. I went to Burrough’s Booking School up in Buffalo and then went to work at the Marine Trust Co. in Niagara Falls, NY.

In 1959 I decided to move to Miami with my buddy Richard Schillingeton. He didn’t stay long, but I did for 3 months. I came home and worked for Arnold Karston’s John Deere Dealership for the summer. That fall, another buddy, Rod Eaton, asked me to go Baylor University with him. I did go, but only to night school and worked days until there was no work available for me.

In the spring of 1960, I returned to Wilson, NY, and went to work for Montgomery Wards in Lockport, NY. The following year I was drafted into the army and served February 14, 1961, to February 14, 1963.

In the fall of 1963, mom and dad were moving to Connecticut and I helped close up the farm and moved to Denver, CO and lived with Aunt Thora for a while. While in Denver, I went to airline training school, and in April, 1965, I was hired by Braniff Airways and worked until May 12, 1982, when Braniff went out of business.

On March 10, 1967, I married Analee Lloyd. Joanna was born on December 10, 1968, and Christina was born on December 12, 1972. Ann and I were divorced in 1985. While in the airline business, I lived in the following locations: Denver, Colorado Springs, CO; Portland, OR; Anchorage, AK; Reno, NV; San Jose, LA, San Diego, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Las Cruces, NM; El Paso, Waco, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Wichita, KS; Kansas City, MO; New Orleans, LA; Orlando, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Other places I have lived are: Fort Gordon, GA; Fort Knox, KY; Fort Lewis, WA.

I happily settled in Ellenton, FL and have lived there for the last six years.