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Craig Allan Neidig of Charleston, WV passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on Sunday, January 14, 2024. He was 67. Craig was born on November 27, 1956, and grew up in Northumberland, PA. He was the son of Howard and Betsy (Hendershot) Neidig, who both preceded him in death.
A 1974 graduate of Shikellamy High School in Sunbury, PA, Craig excelled in academics, was an outstanding art student, and performed in the musical South Pacific. After graduating, he moved to Harrisburg to work at Bell Telephone before heading to college at the University of Pittsburgh, beginning at the Bradford campus. At Pitt, he obtained his certificate in Latin American Studies and went on a cultural trip to Guatemala as a research assistant, an experience he always remembered fondly. He earned a BA in Anthropology from Pitt and obtained his MA in Geography and a non-degree PhD in Anthropology from the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign.
After graduating with his MA, Craig worked in the construction engineering research lab for the Army Corps of Engineers in Champaign before relocating to West Virginia in 1995. While working for the Army Corps of Engineers, he had the opportunity to participate in an archaeological excavation in Mississippi as part of a mapping project. Craig served as the state's first Geographic Information Systems Coordinator. He was named Chairman of the WV Statewide Addressing and Mapping Board, a governor-appointed board, for 5 years. Craig left his position with the state of WV in 2007, to work for the federal government at the US Geological Survey as a National Map Liaison. As a liaison, he promoted communication and coordination between the USGS national geospatial program with state and other federal agency programs. He retired from USGS in 2021 after almost 17 years.
Craig and his wife Shelly were married on May 30, 2004. They shared an enjoyment of music and travelled frequently to attend concerts by their favorite artists. He loved good coffee, appreciated great food, and liked to cook. His favorite meals consisted of foods that reminded him of the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish dishes he grew up eating. Craig enjoyed bird watching and had feeders in his yard to observe the different birds: his favorites were the pileated woodpeckers. Craig loved Evie, the family cat, who spent lots of time cuddling on his lap, providing much joy and comfort.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife Michelle "Shelly" (Mollett) Neidig; sister Laurie Neidig Adams and her husband Craig; brother Clay Neidig and his wife Jacque; stepson Ian Davis; niece Carrie Adams; nephew Trevor Adams; nephew Sean Neidig and his wife Blaine; nephew Evan Neidig and his wife Rebekah; other relatives, and many friends.
A memorial service is planned for January 27 at 3 PM at The Cottage at Northgate, 400 Patterson Lane, Charleston WV.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Heart Association (www.heart.org); the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org); the National Audubon Society (www.audubon.org); or the National Park Foundation (www.nationalparks.org).
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