Forrest A. Kramer, born to Fred and Helen (Lehr) Kramer June 6, 1916 in Allentown, Penn. passed away on October 4, 2012 in his home at Tryon Estates in Columbus.
Kramer graduated from Allentown High School then attended Drexel Institute of Technology (Drexel University) attaining a degree in mechanical engineering. Because of this training, his skills were needed in the WWII war effort as an engineer at the Frankford Arsenal in Philadelphia, Penn. He also worked for the Mack Truck Company and held two patents.
He met and married Arlene Kern. They had no children, but in the 1980s, while members of the Hatboro United Methodist Church, in Hatboro, Penn., the Kramers helped with resettlement of several of the “Boat People” from Viet Nam, and this developed into a loving family relationship.
Upon graduating from high school, he was recommended to, but did not attend, the Navy Band School, especially because of his proficiency on the seldom seen double-bell euphonium that his grandparents had purchased for him. From that start, he played in school bands as well as the Allentown Band of Allentown, Penn. (the oldest city band in the continuous existence in the United States), the Tri-County Band of Feasterville, Penn., and the Hendersonville (NC) Community Band until he was in his late 80s.