Erich William Krauss, 65, died Thursday, August 12, 2021 at the WJB Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia, SC. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the US Army. He was born in New York City, NY on July 6, 1956, the son of the late William and Lucile Jean Grady Krauss. He is survived by Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. and Jean Piscina Plyler, his sister and brother-in-law whom he deeply loved, as well as Sam, Felix, Rascal, Saber and Chadwick. Erich was a kind and loving person who had a generous heart. He found beauty in nature and had a particular fondness for Japanese maple trees. He had a love for learning and growing by increasing his understanding about anything that engaged his deeply curious mind. He loved to travel and saw the world with his father, with whom he also enjoyed mountain climbing. He made many day trips to small towns, discovering new people and places along the way. Erich was a blessing of love and kindness to anyone who took the time to get to know him. Private interment will take place at Salisbury National Cemetery, in Salisbury, NC. A celebration of Erich's life will take place at 2:00 pm on August 19, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC under the direction of Rev. David Lauten and Rev. Neal Mathias. Memorials may be made to Providence Home, Chapel Fund, P.O. Box 3188, Columbia, SC 29230. Words of sympathy and condolence may be shared with the family here on the Tribute Wall. Whitaker Funeral Home is honored to assist the family.