TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Dale L. Cramer, 91, of Tuscaloosa, passed away Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, at Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Dale was born June 25, 1924, in Dixon, to Ray and Rebecca Cramer. Dale, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Alabama, was educated at Bradley University and Louisiana State University. He was the recipient of fellowships and assistantships and holder of the National Earhart Foundation Fellowship in Economics. He served from 1968 to 1972 as chairman of the department of economics at the University of Alabama; and from 1981 to 1983 as acting head of the department of economics, finance and legal studies. He was inducted into the University of Alabama's College of Commerce and Business Administration Hall of Fame in 1997.
He was author and co-author of books, refereed articles and book reviews, and presented papers at annual conferences and professional meetings, including those at the University of Chicago, Colombia, Duke, Harvard, and Virginia. He was a member of professional and academic associations and societies, and is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, and Alabama Lives, among other listings.
Dale served as vice chairman of the university council (later named the faculty senate), university commencement marshal, and president of the American Association of University Professors, University of Alabama Chapter. He also served also as chairman or member on a large number of university, college, and departmental committees, some after his retirement in 1988. He was a longtime Kiwanian, former president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa, and divisional lieutenant governor. He enjoyed church activities and working on community projects. A devoted member of Forest Lake United Methodist Church in Tuscaloosa, he served on the administrative board, the administrative council, and various committees. He also taught Sunday school classes. Dale served in the Army during World War II, with duty in the European theater.
Dale loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Alabama football, reading, gardening, exercising, and ballroom dancing. Above all, he loved his beautiful wife, Jeana, since he was 15 years old. He was actively involved in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He was a kind, devoted, and loving man, and his family were most blessed for having him. He was loved and adored, not only by his family, but by people who he touched throughout his life. We praise God for his beautiful life, and our privilege and opportunity to have shared it with him.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jeana Cramer; a daughter, Becky (Ken) McCarn of Charlotte, North Carolina; two sons, Craig (Kathleen) of Tuscaloosa and Randy (Cathy) of Birmingham, Alabama; a brother, John (Elaine) Cramer of Dixon; grandchildren, Jennifer (Matt) Paller of Mableton, Georgia, Kate Cramer of Nashville, Tennessee, Meredith (Coe) Baxter of Tuscaloosa, Anna (Walter) Wilson of Birmingham, and Scott Cramer of San Diego; great-grandchildren, Dylan Paller and Wyatt Paller of Mableton, Hudson Baxter of Tuscaloosa, and Jackson Wilson of Birmingham; stepgrandchildren, James (Cindy) Randall of Birmingham, John (Meagan) Randall of Tuscaloosa, and Mary Margaret Randall of Nashville; step-great-grandchildren, Eva and Lucas Randall of Tuscaloosa; a niece, Sue Rocheleau of Chicago; a nephew, John Cramer Jr. of Herrin; a sister-in-law, Myrtle Bond of Philomath, Oregon; and several other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services were Tuesday at Forest Lake United Methodist Church. Burial was at Memory Hill Gardens in Tuscaloosa. Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Tuscaloosa handled arrangements.
Active pallbearers were John Barker, Coe Baxter, Scott Cramer, Matt Paller, James Randall, John Randall, and Walter Wilson. Honorary pallbearers were the faculty of the College of Commerce and Business Administration of the University of Alabama, the Koinonia Sunday School class of the Forest Lake United Methodist Church, members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa, Murphy Judice, John and Martha Powell, Dr. James Robinson, Alan and Emma Wadsworth, and Jimmy and Clara Warren.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be directed to Forest Lake United Methodist Church in Hospice of West Alabama, or to a charity of the donor's choice.