A “Silent Key” in Amateur Radio jargon is a ham radio operator who has passed away. The expression comes from the Morse Code prosign “SK,” which means “end of work.” This page was created and is maintained to help us remember the following hams who are no longer with us. They were our family members; our dear friends and comrades; and our “elmers,” the patient teachers of the radio arts and sciences who helped us when we were beginning our own journeys onto the air.
| Callsign: | Name: | Remembered As: |
| K1MYF | William B. Simmons | Friend of Wayne Estabrooks, KJ4GDW |
| KA4HKP | Robert E. Carwile | Father of Mike Carwile, KK4BPH |
| KA4ZBJ | Sharon K. Rogers | Wife of Terry Rogers WA4BVY |
| KB4TYF | Aubrey Liles | Grandfather of Tanner Lovelace, KB4TYE |
| KE4QAW | Marvin Couch | Father of René Couch, AI4WJ |
| KF2LA | L. George Ferrer | Father of Chris Ferrer, N2JFP |
| KG4GRY | C. Douglas Pope | Father of Chris Pope, KG4CFX |
| KI4QXO | John Forrest | Active OCRA member since 2006 |
| KJ4SO | William “Woody” Winstead | Charter member of Triangle ATV Association |
| K4NGJ | Byron King | Active Raleigh ham and biker |
| K4RSI | Paul Jacokes | Friend and Elmer of Lad Carrington, W4ORD |
| N4JHW | Joseph H. Wentz Sr | Former DFMA Member |
| NE4T | Gaynell P. Collins | Longtime Possum Trot Net Control |
| W2LOO | Walter Parker | Great Uncle of Steve Jackson, KZ1X |
| W3HJ | Robert Dickenson | Elmer of Steve Jackson, KZ1X |
| W3JCU | James P. Fleming | Elmer of Woody Woodward, K3VSA |
| W4BOH | Wilson C. Lamb | Father of Wilson Lamb, W4BOH |
| W4MUF | Hy Mansberg | Formerly W2MUF, an OCRA Charter Member |
| W4OEJ | Charles Wade Foust | Grandfather of Robbie Foust, KI4TTZ |
| W7PLJ | Kenneth H. Noel | Grandfather of Rob Noel, W7PLJ |
| WOØX | Frank Richards | Former Merchant Marine radio operator who retired to Mebane, NC, OCRA supporter, submitted by Joe Simpson, K4SAR |
| WA4LZD | Ermon (“The Judge”) Godwin | Founder of the Possum Trot Net |
| WA2UNN | Clark Fishman | Elmer and Friend of Steve Jackson, KZ1X |
| W0MQD | Garland Winn | Macon, MO. Elmer of Steve Ahlbom, W3AHL |
| W4FIX | Harry Gates Jr. | Goldsboro, NC, Longtime friend of W4DSE. Harry could “fix anything,” even the most rusty and decrepit radio and make it better than new. |
| W4LCV | Oscar T. Hines | Ex-USN and US Govt radio operator, a true CW Master, who personally knew “The Pioneers.” Mentor of W4DSE. |
| KA4HKP | Robert E. Carwile | Father of Michael Carwile |
| W4FAL | Frank Lynch | Vice Director of SERA |
| W2GX | George Brooks | Mentor of KZ1X |
| W7XD | John Hughes | Early contributor to OCRA |
| W4FAL | Frank Lynch | SERA VP and NC Vice-Director |
| W4DGJ | George McBride | FOC and former OCRA member |
| K4XRM | Randy McCray | Durham County ARES EC |