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Marion A. 'Jim' Wise Virginia Beach, VA QCWA # 13146 Chapter 119 |
MARION ARTHUR (Jim) WISE, (W4PRO)
Marion Arthur (Jim) Wise passed away December 31, 2014. He was a resident of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Marion was preceded in death by his mother Emma Shoemaker Wise, father Maynard Marion Wise, wife Mildred of forty-nine years, brother Larry, and sister Bernadine.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife Linda, a son Gary, daughter-in-law Pamela and granddaughter Amanda. He is also survived by a brother Jan Franklin, a sister-in-law Patricia, nephews Michael, Greg and Brian and many great-nieces and great-nephews. His extended family includes a stepdaughter Kelly Schuellein, her husband Paul and their children, James, Brian and Heidi, a step-son Neal Insley, his wife Madelyn and sons Ross and Grady. Marion was born in Fostoria, Ohio and served in the USAF 13 Bomb Squadron as a gunner in the Korean War. He retired from NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton Virginia where he was involved in the space program. In later years he served as a docent at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA and worked with Habitat for Humanity Smithfield, Va. He was a member of many organizations, but HAM Radio was his passion.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10th at 11 a.m. at the West Neck Village Hall, 2580 Signature Drive, Virginia Beach, VA.
A graveside service will be held at Arlington Memorial Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to be given to the Wounded Warrior Project at the following website: [woundedwarriorproject.org]
It is my sad duty to report to you that our long-time Chapter 119 member, Jim Wise, W4PRO, QCWA Life Member #13146, has become a Silent Key.Jim passed away Wednesday afternoon, New Year's Eve.
As many of you may know, Jim has been a cornerstone of the ham radio community in Tidewater, Virginia. He was one of two remaining Charter members of Chapter 119, and was instrumental in holding the Chapter together during lean times. He was awarded the QCWA 50 Year Anniversary Award, QCWA 50 Year Continuously Licensed Award, and the following Anniversary Awards:55 Year, 60 Year and the 65 Year awards.In 2008 he was awarded the QCWA Century Club Award.There were several Chapter 119 Merit Awards presented to Jim over the years.He contributed articles to the QCWA Chapter 119 Event Horizon publication (now dark) reviewing the (then) new K3 Transceiver operation during contests on 160M and 80M in a Multi-Multi Contest operation at NR4M.He wrote a more comprehensive article on the development of Amateur Radio receivers, and a short nostalgic piece on Field Days Past.
Jim was a long time contest operator, and from perhaps the third running of the ARRL 160M Contest event, he and our own Don Johnson, W4DJ; Terry Appleton, W4GSM, now a SK; and Bill Houghton, W4HBK, were high scoring entries in each of those events between the years 1973 through 1982,.Subsequent to that time Jim constructed a well-appointed multi-operator station, with multiple towers, in Hampton, Virginia.Jim actively pursued his contesting and DXing activities until health issues arose in recent months.
A veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from 1946 to 1952, Jim entered civilian life with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) where he worked until retiring in 1988.
Jim was licensed as an amateur radio operator in 1946, the same year he joined the Air Force.Originally W8YHV, Jim held the instantly-recognizable call sign W4PRO since 1949.
In addition to being a stalwart supporter of the USS Wisconsin Radio Club, Jim was also a member of the Virginia DX Century Club, the A1 Operator Club, the Virginia Beach Amateur Radio Club, the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA), QCWA Chapter 119 Inc., and the First-Class Operators Club (FOC).
Jim is perhaps best known for his participation in many DXpeditions including Easter Island as CE0/W4PRO (1981), from the Dodecanese Islands (Rhodes) as SV5/W4PRO (1992), and from Syria as YK9A (2001).He also operated as VP2MDX (1973), FG0CXV/FS (1976), VP5VEC (1991), 9N7PR and A52PRO (2004).
A Life Member of ARRL, Jim was Assistant Director of the Roanoke Division.His amateur radio interests included antennas, station design, DX (mostly CW), and, of course, contesting as a formidable competitor.He was on the DXCC Honor Roll, had 5BDXCC, and had WAS and DXCC on 160 meters.
Plans have not yet been finalized, but eventually there will be a burial at Arlington National Cemetery.Tentative plans have been made for a Celebration of Life Ceremony to honor Jim on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Village Hall at West Neck in Virginia Beach.There will be confirmation of these details within the next few days.
For those who fondly remember Jim, W4PRO, please keep his family, and especially his wife Linda, W7PRO, in your prayers.
73, Jim.Rest in Peace.
Vic Culver, W4VIC
Secretary, QCWA Chapter 119, Inc.
Ron Young, W8RJL
President, USS Wisconsin Radio Club
