Cramer James Luther, age 90, passed away on January 26th at Beaumont senior living facility in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. “C. James” was born in Detroit Michigan in October of 1928 to James H. Luther II and Fannie Catherine Luther (Smith). Jim grew up in Olean New York, where he attended Olean High School from 42-44 and later graduated from Cranbrook Boarding School in Michigan in 1946. After high school Jim attended Cornell University where he was manger of the crew team, member of Chi Psi Fraternity, Senior Honor Society, and the Sphinx Head Society. Jim graduated in 1950 with a degree in economics. In 1950 C. James enlisted in the Air Force. He went to officer’s candidate school and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He attended flight training school and served in Iwo Jima as the Base Executive Officer until he received an honorable discharge in the fall of 1953. In 1954 Jim and his new bride, Hilly (whom he met in a duck blind) moved to Bismarck, North Dakota at the height of “Oil Wildcatting.” C James proved to be a master negotiator of land mineral rights. He was instrumental in the acquisition and sale of mineral rights on 100,000 acres of land to Socony-Vacuum Oil, which later became the more familiar “Mobile Oil.” The business still manages mineral and extraction rights in 13 counties in North Dakota, 2 Canadian Provinces and maintains production agreements with 16 Oil Companies. Jim attended Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 1968 with an MBA in Finance. He went on to form “Venture Securities” investment fund in 1969, which was distinguished as one of the top performing mutual funds in the country. Subsequently he became the investment manager of $100,000,000+ investment fund in 1971 and ran it profitably through the early 1990’s. His wife, Hilary Ann Luther in 1996, preceded Jim in death. Jim is survived by his sister: Johanna (Luther) Snyder; 3 sons, Jim Luther (wife Melinda) of Hollis, New Hampshire, Gray Luther (wife Lori) of Leesburg, Virginia, and John Luther of Hull, Massachusetts; Six Grandchildren: Jennifer Nelson (husband Graeme), Josh Luther (wife Dorea), Ben Luther, and Theresa Moody (husband Jamie); and two great-grandchildren: Rosemary Nelson and Roark Luther. Jim will be fondly remembered for his great skill and passion for fly-fishing, golf, story telling, and general gamesmanship. Jim was a generous friend and benefactor to numerous causes he was passionate about: Egypt Mills Fishing Club in the Poconos of Pennsylvania was one of his beloved spots. Jim was instrumental in the yearly stocking of the Delco Anglers trout Stream. In recent years he gifted a large collection of Scrimshaw to “The Carnegie,” part of the Vineyard Trust in Edgartown. His generosity also found grateful Vineyard beneficiaries at the “Polly Hill Arboretum,” The “Flying Horses Carousel,” and “Hilly’s Garden” in Edgartown, Massachusetts, the hometown Jim and his beloved wife Hilly enjoyed a heart-full of happy decades together in. All who knew Jim cherished his gift in spinning a “great yarn,” he was a masterful raconteur. He will be sorely missed by family and extended family and fondly remembered as a great friend who gave himself to so many. A memorial service will be held at Beaumont in Bryn Mawr, PA at 2 P.M. on Saturday, February 9th. A reception will follow at Beaumont. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to The Vineyard Trust, P.O. Box 5277, Edgartown, MA 02539. Condolences may be left on Cramer James Luther’s online guest book at www.stretchfuneralhome.com. To plant a tree in memory of Cramer Luther, please visit our Tribute Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Cramer James Luther 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Havertown, state: Pennsylvania