Claude Wallace Cheek passed away in his home on May 25th, 2015 surrounded by his family. Claude was born on May 13, 1926 in Ojus, Florida to Winona Bell and Lyman Ward Cheek. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and three sisters. He graduated from Planeview High School in Wichita Kansas. Following graduation, he was inducted into the army in 1944 and served in the South Pacific in the 96th Infantry Division. He received a Purple Heart for his service in the Battle for Okinawa. The GI Bill allowed him to continue his education culminating in a PhD from Wichita State University in 1970. He served as Director of Language Rehabilitation at the Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia and the Clinical Director of the Institute of Logopedics in Wichita, Kansas from 1954 to 1962. In 1962 he accepted the Director of Special Education position for the North East Independent School District in San Antonio Texas. In 1963 he married Myrna Montgomery in Miami, Texas. He became Chairman of the Department of Special Education at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas from 1968 until 1972 when he came to the Department of Special Education at North Texas State University. Claude served on several National Education and Texas Departments of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Committees. He was chosen as a Student Association Honor Professor in 1980 and was a member of the UNT Retired Instructor and Personnel Committee. He retired from teaching at UNT in 1992. Among his many interests and hobbies were gardening, saltwater aquariums and developing orchids that he hybridized and which have been named in the International Orchid Registry. After retiring from UNT in 1992 Claude began painting in watercolor. He was President of NTAAL, now Visual Arts Society of Texas (VAST). Claude was a member of Denton Bible Church and enjoyed many Bible study groups that he attended and he volunteered in the Media Ministry of the church. He is survived by his wife Myrna of Denton, son Steven and wife Randi of Cambridge, UK, son Roger and wife Linda of Somers, New York, daughter Christy of Denton, 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
The memorial service is scheduled for Friday, May 29th, 10:30 AM at Denton Bible Church (2300 E University Dr, Denton) with a 9:30 AM visitation at the church