Charles E. “Sonny” Cheeks Jr., 75, of Bentonville, Virginia passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at his home.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 2 PM at the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department in Bentonville. Wear something blue, it was Sonny’s favorite color, and share your favorite memories with us.
Sonny was born on July 9, 1949 in Marion, Virginia to the late Charles Sr. and Beulah McKinnon Cheeks. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Dodson. He graduated from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland in 1968 and retired from both IBM and Lockheed Martin. After his retirement he worked for the ABC store in Front Royal, Virginia and at the Shenandoah Golf Course to keep busy. Sonny loved building anything out of wood, collecting coins and guns and playing golf. He loved his family and friends and would answer a call for help any time someone needed it. His heart was huge, his word was his bond and you could always count on him to tell you the truth. He was a member of the Front Royal Moose Lodge 829 and a lifetime member of the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief and President.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Patricia I. Cheeks of Bentonville; honorary granddaughter, Selei Buracker of Norfolk, Virginia; four Godsons, Bob Love, Mike Love and Bruce Love all of Lufkin, Texas and Zachary Keyser of Frederick, Maryland; Goddaughter, Kelly Adams of Manassas, Virginia; two sisters, Regina Medlin of San Antonio, Texas and Rebecca Keyser of Damascus, Maryland; brother, Roy E. Cheeks of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; sister-in-law, Linda Bates of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Donald M. Ingram of Kearneysville, West Virginia and his fur babies, Peanut and Chicka.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the South Warren Volunteer Fire Department, 3330 Stonewall Jackson Highway, Bentonville, Virginia 22610; to the Humane Society of Warren County, 1245 Progress Drive, Front Royal, Virginia 22630 or to the Ragged Mountain Dogs, 1415 Nethers Road, Sperryville, Virginia 22740.
Sonny was a great man and what I can say a good friend. It was always a pleasure working with him, we will miss you Sonny, rest easy my friend.
I worked with Sonny at IBM/Loral and Lockheed Martin in Manassas. I was one of the Construction Coordinators who had to deal with Sonny many times over the years. We had many discussions regarding Contractor bids and sometimes I tried to change his mind on who I thought would be the better awarded contractor. I rarely ever won those discussions.
I considered Sonny a friend of mind. Before I retired I sat in Sonny’s office and we talked about retirement. He told me then his was close. I stopped in the ABC store one time and told him about a retiree luncheon in Manassas, but due to his work schedule he wasn’t able to make it.
I know Sonny will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
He was a fantastic person.
I will miss you.
Your friend, Tinker