William Franklin Cheek

William F. Cheek 1925-2019 It is with profound sadness that the children of William (Bill) F. Cheek announce his passing. Bill Cheek, age 93, was born at home in Lakeland, FL at 417 S. Tennessee Ave., one half block from Lake Morton. His birth was November 15, 1925 and he lived in this area during the great depression years, the later 1920’s and early 1930’s. Bill attended Lakeland and Lake Morton Grammar Schools and graduated from Lakeland High School in 1943, during the 6th year of WWII. He volunteered and enlisted in the Army Air Corps and planned to to become a pilot. The Air Corps changed all that and sent his entire class to Aerial Gunman School where he was assigned to gunnery training. Upon completion he was made Tail Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress and sent to the 8th Air Force 34th Bomb Group, 391st Squad, England. He and his crew flew 22 combat missions bombing strategic Military targets in Europe. After the surrender he and his crew were returned to the U.S.A. and he was honorably discharged at age 19, his Military service complete. He attended Florida Southern College, graduating in 1948. He later did graduate work at the University of Tampa. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. His first employment was as a Merchandising Representative with The Florida Citrus Commission and he was later promoted to south Florida Regional Manager in Chicago and St. Louis. From there he went to Waverly Groves Cooperative as an Assistant Sales Manager. After several more years selling oranges, grapefruit and tangerines he eventually became the sole owner of the Florida Citrus Brokerage Company. Bill said as much as he loved the fresh fruit industry it was just too temperamental with freezes, droughts, hurricanes not knowing if you had a crop or not. He gradually transcended into the real estate business buying, selling and renting property, this is where he stayed for 55 years. He served as President of the Lakeland Board of Realtors and Chairman of The Multiple Listing Association. The Lakeland Multiple Listing Association named him Lakeland Realtor of the Year. In 1960 he and Betty opened the The Cheek House Antiques where they ran a partnership for 35 years. Upon retirement they opened another antique shop in the Blowing Rock Antique Center, Blowing Rock, NC, which they operated until 2002. At retirement Betty and Bill bought a summer home in the Village of Sugar Mountain, NC and became members of the Sugar Mountain Community Association and enjoyed summer retirement living. Bill was the eighth, and last living, child. Their parents were Walter Gidian Cheek and Texanne Riddle Cheek had four boys and four girls (Carlton Cheek (Martha Bell), Nell Cheek Ingle (Walter), Sarah Cheek Richardson (Hope), Margaret Cheek, Arthur Cheek (Gayle), Harold Cheek (Alma), Louise Cheek Daniel (Bill) and William (Bill) Cheek (Betty Bronson). He was preceded in death by his wife Betty Bronson Cheek and grandson Nathan C. Powell. He is survived by his daughter Renae Cheek Powel, son Mark William Cheek (Bill Schubert), granddaughter Darla Powell and devoted and loving caregiver Jeanette Davis (Mark Ballinger) and numerous friends. Visitation Tuesday, October 8, 2019 at 9 am with services following at 10 am Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 with a reception following in the Tribute Center. Interment will be at Oak Hill Burial Park, 4620 US Highway 98 South, Lakeland, FL 33812. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the SPCA of Lakeland, 5850 Brannen Road South, Lakeland, FL 33813