CRAMER FRANK

WO1 Frank Cramer was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 02/23/2023 at the age of 81.3 from Dementia
Cheney, WA
Flight Classes 66-15 and 66-13
Date of Birth 10/19/1941
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 48 AHC in 66-67
Call sign in Vietnam JOKER 18
This information was provided by Obit

More detail on this person: Frank entered into Eternal Rest on February 23, 2023, after a ten-year battle with dementia. Frank was born in a log cabin in St. Marries, Idaho, on October 19, 1941. His parents were Frank Cramer, Sr., and Verna Blair Cramer. The family moved around Idaho, Montana, and Washington for several years before settling in Spokane in the early fifties. Frank graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in June 1961. While attending high school, Frank worked at a service station, took flying lessons, and received his pilot's license before getting his driver's license. He joined the National Guard Reserves at age sixteen with his dad's permission. While attending high school, Frank flew and delivered mail to Lewiston, Idaho, with a company contracting with the United States Postal Service. Frank met his future wife Diane Sallis in the study hall at Lewis & Clark. They were married in September 1961. Frank joined the US Army and went to Germany with the Third Armored Division. He was a Tank Commander. The family found out many years later that Frank had also flown surveillance missions at night over East Germany from West Germany. Frank was sent back to the US when his dad had a heart attack. Frank applied and was accepted into the Rotary Wing Flight School in 1966. Frank graduated and went to Vietnam in November 1966. He flew armed helicopters and supported the troops on the ground. He earned several medals, including the Bronze Star. Upon Frank's return from Vietnam in November 1967, he trained new pilots at the flight school in Texas as a Tactical Officer. After Frank's honorable discharge in 1969, he moved his family back to Spokane, Washington. Frank then joined the Spokane Police department in May 1971. He also went back to the Army National Guard, eventually flying with the 841st Medical Detachment. The pilots flew rescue and medivac missions from all over the Inland Northwest to the Spokane area hospitals. (This was before the private helicopter service came to Spokane.) Frank was the first pilot to land on the new helipad at Deaconess Hospital. During this time, Frank also earned his BA Degree in Sociology from Eastern Washington University, while working full-time and flying for the Army National Guard. Frank medically retired from the Spokane Police in 1987. He was active in his church, Audubon Park United Methodist, and the "Walk with Christ" retreats. Frank leaves his wife of 62 years, Diane Sallis Cramer, his three children - Theresa Enright (Larry Enright), Ron Cramer (Monica Snow), and Michael Cramer; his sister Mary Wandler; sister-in-law Sandy Cramer; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Regina and Rockne Timm; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Michael and Colleen Sallis. Frank had five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. We will have a memorial service at Audubon Park United Methodist Church at l0 a.m. on April 1, 2023. A military service will follow at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Memorial Gardens Cemetery, off Cheney-Spokane Road. Frank will be beloved and remembered for a life well lived. Published by Spokesman-Review on Mar. 19, 2023.

Burial information: Spokane Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Spokane, WA

This information was last updated 04/03/2023

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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