Craig Allan Wicks

Craig Allan Wicks, age 71, of Roanoke VA passed away on April 25th, 2024, after a   long health battle. He was born on October 15, 1952, in Grand Rapids, Mi, to Bess and Woody Wicks. Craig was a veteran and served in the United States Air Force as a young man during the Vietnam War and later in life signed up as an Army Reservist.Craig had a love for radio and in 1982, this sparked Independent News Watch (INW), which was developed as a news and information programming source for broadcasters.  The first show premiered on GRTV.  INW is what led Craig back to Amateur Radio in 1986 earning his Novice, then Technician class license.  After passing the General and Advanced exams he decided to keep N8HIB until the vanity callsigns became available and when they were, he requested WX8DX, which was issued to him in 1997.He was a weather enthusiast and partnered with the National Weather Service in both Grand Rapids MI and Blacksburg VA in one form or another.Craig became an avid hiker including a trip to hike Machu Picchu as well as many of the mountains around Virginia.  He also created precise trail hiking maps for other hikers.One of his favorite pastimes was watching his beloved Red Wings and Boston Bruins hockey teams and Michigan football (Go Blue!).Any conversation you had with Craig would certainly not go without mention of his beloved cats and the places that he loved to eat at, and encouragement for you to go visit them.  Craig will be missed by those who knew him.  He is survived by his wife, Sharon Wicks and her daughter Megan Faver, his two daughters, Michelle (Rick) Alvarez, Melissa (TeeJay) Moran, grandchildren Madilynn, Nolan, and Amelia Moran. His mother, Bess Wicks, Brother, Kevin Wicks, and sister, Jody Hyatt.  In addition, niece, Brittany Wicks and nephew, Zach Wicks. He was preceded in death by his father, Norwood (Woody) Wicks, and his grandparents.