Obituary

Thanet Louise Barnitz Kramer never missed the opportunity to take one last picture of departing family or, more specifically, to have husband Nick take the picture while she kept the subjects from escaping without the requisite memorial. The scene was repeated innumerable times, whether it was a daughter leaving home for the first day of school, a college sophomore returning to the dorm after a holiday or a grown son trying to load his family into the car for a long drive home. Despite the evolving sophistication of efforts to avoid these camera delays, Thanet always wanted, and usually succeeded in getting, that last picture. Then she stood in the driveway, often alone, until the ones she loved so intensely were no longer in sight. We who knew and loved her now take our turn standing in the driveway. Thanet Louise Barnitz Kramer, formerly of Plainview, passed away on Oct. 31, 2014, at her home in Austin, Texas. She died peacefully, surrounded by children and grandchildren, with her beloved husband at her side. A rosary and visitation with the family will be held at Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Plainview at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7. A funeral mass will be held at St. Alice Catholic Church in Plainview at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, with burial to follow at Plainview Cemetery. A luncheon at St. Alice Catholic Church will follow the internment. Born Thanet Louise Barnitz on March 31, 1924, in Letart Falls, Ohio, she was the fourth of eight children of William and Ruth Alexander Barnitz. She grew up working on her father's truck farm during the Great Depression before graduating from Racine High School at the age of 15. She moved to Columbus to attend Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at the age of 19 in 1943. While attending Ohio State, Thanet had a part-time job in the Agronomy Department, where she earned 35 cents an hour and met the love of her life, Nicholas Kramer, a doctoral student. Nick and Thanet were married on Sept. 4, 1943, shortly before Nick entered the U.S. Army. Thanet first visited Texas during Nick's basic training at Fort Hood, but she returned to Ohio, where she lived with a sister and taught math, English and Latin at a high school while Nick served in combat infantry across France, Belgium and Germany. Following the conclusion of World War II, Nick and Thanet settled in Columbus, where Nick was completing his Ph.D. in Agronomy. The couple's first son Eric William was born in Columbus in 1947, and daughter Renata Ruth arrived in 1949. The family moved to Lubbock in 1950, where daughter Sara Beth was born in 1952, followed by the arrival of Alexa Marie in 1955. In 1960, the family moved to the Paymaster research farm east of Plainview. Son Evan Nicholas was born in Plainview in 1963, followed by Emil Augustine in 1965. In 1971, Thanet returned to her teaching career and taught math at Coronado Junior High School in Plainview for 16 years before retiring. Thanet and Nick traveled extensively, and she was active in teaching religion and marriage education classes at St. Alice Catholic Church, as well as serving in the St. Alice Altar Society and the Plainview Hospital Auxiliary. Thanet worked tirelessly for Plainview Community Concerts, Meals on Wheels and numerous other charitable interests, and in 1989, she received the inaugural Volunteer of the Year award in Plainview. Thanet is survived by her husband of 71 years, Nicholas Kramer of Austin, and by her six children and their spouses: Eric Kramer and Sara Jill Rubel of East Troy, Wis.; Renata and Paul Griego of Albuquerque, N.M.; Sara and Jerry Hulcy of Sweetwater, Texas; Alexa and Robert Stuifbergen of Austin; Evan and Serena Kramer of Houston; and Emil and Susan Kramer of Davenport, Iowa. In addition, Thanet is survived by 12 grandchildren: Brian and John Kramer (Eric), Saul, Stefan and Ruth Griego (Renata), Renee Carey and Craig and Chad Hulcy (Sara), Anne Morales and Emily Lovell (Alexa), and Nicholas and Johnny Kramer (Evan). Thanet also leaves 12 great-grandchildren: Forrest Kramer, Hunter and Scarlett Griego, Tenille Sylvest, Emily, Jackie and Cody Carey, Taryn, Addison and Landon Hulcy, and Sophia and Lilliana Morales, as well as two great-great-grandchildren, Kyler and Ellie Carey. Also surviving are Thanet's sisters, Billie Jean Hoelscher of St. Louis. Mo., Wilma Nelson of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Elnora Wells of Coshocton, Ohio, and her brother Robert Barnitz of Mason, W.V. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Hayman Barnitz, and two sisters, Bernice Carpenter and Julia Young. Thanet Kramer left behind a legacy of love and faith for all that knew her - and lots of pictures. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten. The family wishes to particularly thank caregivers Pamela Musgrave and Elaine Baker, whose dedication and support have been a gift without measure. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759 (www.hospiceaustin.org).
.Published in Plainview Daily Herald from Nov. 5 to Nov. 6, 2014