Edwin Rives Cheek, 11/25/1928 – 12/13/2020, loving husband and father, patient teacher, scholar, writer, and creative storyteller, died peacefully on December 13, 2020, his family by his side. Born November 25, 1928 on a farm in Chatham County, NC, Edwin graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1946. He studied English Literature at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving his B.A. in 1950, his M.A. in 1958, and his Ph.D. on Dickens’ Views of Women in 1967. In 1949 he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He taught at Wingate Junior College from 1955-1959. In 1964 he began his career at Mars Hill College (University) as Professor of English, becoming Professor Emeritus in June 1996. Edwin was devoted to his family. He immersed himself in books, Appalachian Studies and Philanthropy. He enjoyed gardening, carpentry, hiking, classical music, travel, and writing. He was a long-time active member of Mars Hill Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Pauline, his brothers, Leon Cheek and William Cheek, and his parents, Leon Clarence and Jessie Mae Williams Cheek. He is survived by his three children, Edith McDowell of Asheville, Edwin Cheek of Bloomington, Indiana (Amy), and Elizabeth Cheek Rives of Chapel Hill, as well as adored granddaughters, Eleanor Gwyneth and Emma Claire McDowell. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to Neighbors in Need or Beacon of Hope of Madison County.