ARRL Roanoke Division Assistant Director and DXpeditioner Marion A. “Jim” Wise, W4PRO, of Virginia Beach, Virginia died December 31. He was 86. An ARRL Life Member, Wise was well-known within the Tidewater Amateur Radio community.

Licensed in 1948 as W8YHV in his native Ohio, he served in the US Air Force during the Korean War, then worked for NASA until he retired in 1988. He was a part of special event ham operations from the museum battleship USS Wisconsin (N4WIS).

W4PRO belonged to the First-Class Operators Club, the A1 Operators Club, and the Quarter Century Wireless Association. He was involved in several DX operations from 1970s until 2004. A CW aficionado, he was on the DXCC Honor Roll and had completed 5-Band DXCC and 160 Meter DXCC.

Survivors include his wife Linda, W7PRO. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, at 11 AM at the West Neck Village Hall, 2580 Signature Drive, Virginia Beach.