Wayne Craig died peacefully with his wife of 49 years, Candra M. Craig, by his side at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on May 4, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence Alltan "LA" and Bertha Lean Critzer Craig and survived by cousins Howard "Buddy" Craig, Jr. of Schuyler, Va., Danny Craig of Charlottesville, Va., Robin Atkinson of Chester, Va., and Steve Allen of Danedin, Fl. Wayne was raised in Scottsville, Va. and was a graduate of both Appalachian State Teachers College and the University of Virginia.

In 1966 Wayne made a decision that impacted his life and that of a number of generations of high school students who were dependents of families living on the Quantico Marine Corps Base and who attended Quantico Middle-High School. There he taught classes in American history, government, and AP classes in these areas, and within a few years he met his future wife when she began teaching in the History Department which he later headed. For thirty-nine years his life was dedicated to teaching students the background of the liberty they were experiencing in their own pursuit of happiness. History came alive in his classes because of his tremendous scholarship, the use of a variety of approaches in teaching, and a challenging and congenial style that endeared him to his students.

Many students may recall his program during presidential election years. Each senior government class would often be divided into two political parties which wrote a platform and selected candidates that debated issues. American history classes of juniors would help coordinate a school-wide mock election which required all students to register in advance of Election Day. Wayne ensured that his students also knew great American art and took classes to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Writing essays was stressed, and students often read literary works that related to topics like Vietnam or the dangers of totalitarian government. And few students will ever forget another "pupil" in his class named Gordon. It was a small troll dressed in a kilt representing Wayne's Scottish ancestry.

It is a wonder Wayne ever had time to sponsor senior classes where he was a chaperone to places like New York, Atlanta, and Quebec and then managed graduations and speakers. He also worked twenty-two years with junior classes as a co-sponsor and helped them with proms. Mrs. Craig always knew that she would get her annual dance at the prom despite the fact "he had a bone in his leg." In later years he helped coordinate the Boys and Girls State selections from Quantico with the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. He likewise served on many professional committees and attended numerous educational conferences to broaden his knowledge of history and teaching techniques.

His fine teaching was recognized by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1988 when he was named the Virginia Society of the DAR Outstanding Teacher, and in 2004, he was chosen by Department of Defense Education Activity as the DoDEA History Teacher of the Year. The greatest honor for him, though, were the letters/cards, calls, and visits of many former students from across the years.

The Craigs traveled widely in Canada and the United States to see famous places first hand. During the nation's Bicentennial in 1976, they visited New England to see sites associated with the American Revolution. These places complemented those spots from both the Revolution and the Civil War they already knew well from having lived in Virginia. Wayne surely enjoyed trips to Gettysburg where he probably had the Gettysburg Address running through his mind since Abraham Lincoln was his most admired president. They also ventured out West where they marveled at the beauty of natural spots such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Dakotas, and the redwood sanctuary of Muir Woods and looked forward to annual vacations in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the Smoky Mountains and Nags Head.

A visit to the Craig home would also reflect Wayne's love of history. He had collections that included dessert plates of White House china, presidential busts, White House tree ornaments he displayed on the Fourth of July, and hand carved Santa Clauses. Then stepping into the Craig library consisting of four walls of shelves of books was a memorable moment. Wayne arranged his non-fiction books of history not by the Library of Congress or Dewey Decimal systems but in the chronological order of events starting with1607. He had forty books just about Lincoln alone and also shelves of fiction.

Wayne defines the kind of Oxford scholar Chaucer describes in The Canterbury Tales: "...gladly would he learn and gladly teach." When he retired from teaching, he was given a furled American flag that had flown on the base in honor of this remarkable teacher.

A memorial service will be planned for a later date, but in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Gettysburg Foundation or the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.