Luther Emerson Kramer

Luther Emerson Kramer March 21, 1929 - June 15, 2011 Luther Emerson Kramer, 82, of St. Augustine, passed away at his home on June 15, 2011, after a short battle with cancer of the liver. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lottie Kramer, and his only brother, Frank Waldo Kramer. He is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Peggy Jane Ponce; his five daughters - Becky (Bill) Powell (Middlesboro, KY); Karen Blondell (Lakeland, FL); Cindy (Michael) Shackelford (Del. Mar, CA); Nancy (Brian) Kaman (St. Augustine) and Linda (Jesus) Barrera (St. Augustine)- 14 grandchildren: Scott (Elizabeth),Brian, Vince and Jenny Powell; Lindsay, Brett (Leslie) and Logan Blondell; Cade Kinney-Shackelford; Cynthia, Brandon, and Kevin Kaman; and Elena, Diego and Marco Barrera, and two great-granddaughters, Kate and Ella Blondell. He also is survived by his nephew, Ralph Kramer (Port St. Lucie, FL), two nieces, Gloria Lippard and Sharon Linhares (Ootewah, TN) and one brother-in-law, Jimmy Ponce (St. Augustine). Born on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas on March 21, 1929, he immigrated with his parents and brother to Florida in 1931. During his early childhood, he and his family worked as migrant farmers. During his later childhood and teen years, he lived in Stuart, Florida. He graduated from Florida State University in 1951 and went on to serve three active and seven inactive years in the U. S. Navy as an Ensign/Lieutenant 2nd grade. Emerson met Peggy Ponce in college on a blind date and they married in Norfolk, Va, in 1952. Together they traveled the United States as he finished his stint in the Navy and then settled in Daytona, Florida, as he began his 21 year career with the J.C. Penney Co. During his years with Penney's, they lived in Florida, Virginia, Alabama and Kentucky. While in Kentucky, he owned and operated a Western Auto store, as well as several other small businesses. He moved to St. Augustine in 1981. He and his wife owned Kramer and Kramer Realty, as well as many rental properties. Emerson and his wife enjoyed traveling, dancing, dining out, watching sporting events, singing in the First United Methodist Church choir and spending time with their family. He loved watching the grandchildren play sports, perform in school events and excel in their chosen careers. His legacy will be the impact he has made on the lives of so many family members and friends through his unselfish acts of kindness. The family will receive friends at St. Johns Family Funeral Home from 6-8 PM Friday June 17, 2011. There will be a Celebration of Life service at the First United Methodist Church 11:30 AM Saturday June 18, 2011. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the First United Methodist Church or to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, both of St Augustine. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.