His early education was at Williamstown Elementary and High Schools. He attended Marshall University, Huntington, WV where he recieved a B.A. and M.A. in Speech and Language Pathology. He was employed for six years in Mason County, WV, as the County Coordinator of Speech, Language, and Hearing.
His journey to the Master of Divinity dgree began at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD, with one year of Pre-Theology and four years of Graduate Theology Education. His ordination took place on June 24, 1984, at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in Charleston, WV.
Following ordination, Father Cramer served as Associate Pastor at St. Michael parish, Wheeling,WV from 1984 to 1986. From 1986 until 1989 he served in the same capacity at St. Joseph the Worker parish in Weirton, WV
In 1989, Father Cramer was named pastor of St. Joseph parish, in Fairmont,WV which included All Saints mission in Barrackville, WV. He served that parish and mission until August 20, 1996, at which time he became pastor of All Saints parish in Bridgeport, West Virginia