Robert Charles Kramp

Robert Charles Kramp, 71, Charlotte, NC: died Friday, January 24, 2014, at his residence. He was born in Alexandria, VA August 2, 1942 to Mary Margaret Gailliot Franck of Hannover, PA and Robert Karl Strike Kramp of Rockville, MD.

He was preceded in death by his father Robert Karl Strike Kramp and his sister Beverly Kramp Clemons of Westminster, MD. He is survived by his mother Mary Margaret Gailliot Franck of Hannover, PA, his brother Russell William Kramp of Fort Denaud, FL and his two daughters Kelly Kramp Collins of Germantown, MD and Kimberly Kramp Kelley of Charlotte, NC and their spouses Henry F. Collins III and Walter R. Kelley III; He was “Papaw” to five grandchildren Emma Collins, Charlie Kelley, Christina Collins, Jake Kelley and Brooke Kelley: 4 nieces and 2 nephews; Karin Clemons Anderson, Kelly Clemons, David Clemons, Justin Troy Kramp, Tamalee Kramp and Molly Clemons. Robert is also survived by his ex-wife and good friend Linda McCutcheon Smith of Blacksburg, VA. He will also be missed by his second wife Annie Edgerton and her daughter Jessica Schenker both of Columbia, SC.

Growing up in Maryland, Bob attended Walter Johnson High School. He then attended the University of Maryland where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology graduating in 1964. He went on to receive a Masters in Health Physics at the University of Oklahoma in 1969. His final academic achievement was earning his PhD in Radiation Biology from the University of Tennessee in 1973. Among the many awards Bob received he was proudest of his Post Doctoral Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Bob loved hiking and backpacking especially on the Appalachian Trail. He loved the U.S. National Parks and Forests and frequented them regularly. If he was not hiking you could usually find him cycling on the U.S. Rails to Trails and Greenway systems across the United States.

Bob was an avid musician who loved the old time banjo and guitar. He won a number of ribbons in folk festivals across the Southeast. He made and cultivated a number of lifelong friendships through his gift of music. There was not a single holiday or family get together that did not include some of “Papaw Kramp’s” songs.

Of course, a large part of Bob’s life and career, particularly over the last twenty years, was centered around genealogy. It consumed his passion for writing, photography and travel. Bob traveled to England, Scotland, Germany, Utah and a number of other states researching and meeting the other members of his family lineage. In 2007, he launched his blog “Life’s Journey” chronicling his travels and adventures for the world to see (http://travelstwo.blogspot.com). The culmination of his genealogy research and pursuit of his family history was documented in his book titled “Descendants of Anton Gailliot of Wesel, Germany”. Outside of the love for his family and music, his book was his life’s work. It was his passion and a legacy he leaves behind for the “future genealogists”.

Kim and Kelly think that Bob sums up his passion and gifts better than anyone in his last publication titled “What about Bob?”.

“….I wish I could add something more to these notes. Some meaningful observation about life and why we are here. I would especially like to believe that I met God on the road and He told me personally not to fear the valley of death and that there is a bigger place waiting for me, maybe with another wife and long-term relationship. Hey, y’see, there is a still something to joke about. But I believe that life is definitely not a joke; it has a purpose. Laughter is a gift, Beauty is a gift. Music is a gift. The ability to paint or draw is a gift. The ability to write and have an original thought are gifts. The knowledge that we are not immortal is perhaps also a gift. No other animal on this earth has that particular gift of foreseeing that our lives are finite, only we know that is for certain.

What we do with that knowledge is something else again. Not all of us have the forethought to use the gifts which are given to us. From what I understand from what I actually have experienced, all of us have certain gifts, but not everybody takes the time to use them. Likewise, some do not take the time to define our purpose even though I believe we all have a purpose.

…. What happens on the other side of death seems to be a big question. I wish I knew the answer for sure. In the meantime, I will carry on the search for understanding for as many days as are given to me.”