Thomas O. Kraeer

Board chairman of Hickory Telephone Co. Thomas O. Kraeer, 81, of Hickory, died at 10:47 p.m. Friday, May 31, 2002, in the Washington Hospital emergency room. He was born September 26, 1920, in Woodrow, a son of Otto Irons and Bertha Bell Miller Kraeer. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Canonsburg, where he served on the church council and was first layman president-elect. Mr. Kraeer was employed by J.R. Cowden Trucking Co. from 1941 to 1991 and by Russell Asphalt from 1968 to 1986. He also farmed and raised beef cattle. Mr. Kraeer was active in Hickory Lions Club, having worked up the chairs to serve as president. He was a charter member, joining the club April 13, 1955. He was a graduate of Hickory High School and served in the U.S. Army during World War II with 158th RCT-SWP from 1942 to 1945. Mr. Kraeer served on the board of Canonsburg Mutual Insurance Co., the board of supervisors in Mt. Pleasant Township for four years and the board of Hickory Telephone Co., having been chairman of the board for the past 22 years. On December 9, 1945, he married Viola Leanna Ahrns, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Thomas Ahrns Kraeer of Burke, Va., and David Brady Kraeer of Hickory; two grandchildren, David Thomas Kraeer and Lindsey Leanna Kraeer; and his stepmother, Jane Rossi Kraeer of Washington. Deceased are four sisters, Hazel Miller Johnston, Gladys Kraeer Agnew, Ruth Kraeer Clayton and Anna Belle Kraeer Sherman. KRAEER - Friends of Thomas O. Kraeer of Hickory, who died Friday, May 31, 2002, will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, with Pastor Jeffrey Marquis officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory. Additional information and tributes online at www.NealFuneralHome.com.