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William Vann (Bill) Cheek

Posted 2017-12-11 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Friday, December 8, 2017, page 5a

William Vann Cheek, Juris Doctor, 88, of Prescott, Arizona, died on
Nov. 30, 2017. Bill was the son of William F. and Harriet Lee Cheek,
and loving husband of Joella Wood Cheek for over 63 years.

He is survived by Joella, one son, Marquand; and four daughters,
Ann, Laura, Linda and Marie, all living in the western United
States. He is also survived by eight loving grandchildren, Faye,
Michael, Nicole, Tyler, Nathan, Lindsey, Kyle, Mason; and three
precious great grandchildren, Elsa, Malin and Athena.

Dr. Cheek was awarded the Bronze Star as a hero and veteran of the
Korean War engaged in battles at Inchon and the Chosin Reservoir. He
served his country proudly as a U.S. Marine from 1950-53. He went on
to attend the University of Oregon. There, he met and married Joella
in 1954.

He was accepted into the Doctorate of Law Degree Program at the
University of New Mexico, and earned his J.D. in 1957. Their first
child was born in Albuquerque, at the same hospital where Bill was
born 27 years earlier. Bill’s work career spanned over six decades.
He had a passion for work and enjoyed many successful business and
community relationships.

He initially practiced law in Alamogordo, New Mexico for several
years where three of his daughters were born. The family relocated
to Eugene, Oregon where Bill worked as a legal counselor for a land
and title company. Their fifth child was born in Eugene.

In 1966, Dr. Cheek became Chief Legal Counsel on staff at Alaska
Airlines in Seattle, Washington. He would subsequently become Vice
President of two Regional airline carriers in California and
Colorado before finally moving to Arizona to complete his career as
a professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in
Prescott from 1988-2009. During his time at ERAU he held a number of
roles including Aviation Business Administrator (ABA) faculty,
Department Chair-ABA, and Campus Grants Coordinator.

He was an avid chef and often held themed dinners for many of his
ERAU Campus colleagues. After retiring from Embry-Riddle, Dr. Cheek
remained active in the military retirement community.

He held positions as Commandant of the Department of Arizona Marine
Corps League for two consecutive terms from 2006-2008, and as
Commander of the Prescott Veterans of Foreign Wars #541, also for
two terms, spanning 2011-2013.

In addition to cooking, Bill’s hobbies included travel, wine and
following the stock market. He was the life of the party wherever
one was held. He was a story-teller and a jokester, but his legacy
lies in his devotion to family, country, co-workers and friends. He
made sure to attend all family events from graduations, to weddings
and even to baby showers.

He was the family patriarch and so well-loved for his leadership. He
will be missed immensely. A memorial service honoring his life will
be held after the holidays at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,
Davis Learning Center (DLC)-Bldg. #20, 3700 Willow Creek Rd,
Prescott, AZ 86301, at 2 p.m. on 27 January, 2018.

The final resting place for Dr. Cheek will be Arlington National
Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in support of
the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation (https://www.mcsf.org/) or
other similar charities.

Information provided by survivors.




Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.

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