Rev. Dr. Paul Orbie Cheek of Springfield, MO, passed on to Glory on Monday, February 17, 2020. He was born on April 7, 1930, in Santa Monica, CA, to Crules and Gladys Cheek.

Paul was blessed with a full and happy childhood. He loved to take trips with his father and anticipate delicious meals prepared by his mother. (He reported that the kitchen has always been his favorite room.) He enjoyed organized sports (for the teamwork, not the competition), especially basketball, and riding his bike to the YMCA with friends.

As Paul matured, he participated in plays, singing in the choir, working on "the ranch" his family owned, and playing the trumpet. He loved family gatherings, whether the family was his biological, matrimonial, or church family. He enjoyed playing games, road trips, and gathering around the table.

Later in life, he found satisfaction in yardwork, watching sports, reading and watching movies, raising a family, encouraging and mentoring, officiating at weddings and other joyous occasions, and most importantly ministering and preaching. His genuine love of people was evident to all who met him. He was described as a "gentle friend of God."

Paul graduated from Redlands, CA High School in 1948, then attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where he met the love of his life, Sylvia Hendricks. They married in 1950 while still in college. Both Paul and Sylvia received a call into the ministry at early ages. Their partnership sharing the "Good news of Christ" spanned 60+ years.

Paul and Sylvia served as pastors to a succession of churches and ministries in: Crescent, OK; Fort Worth, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Indio, Banning, Poway, Downey, San Bernardino, Manteca, and Modesto, California; and in Springfield, Missouri, at Cornerstone and a number of independent, assisted living centers, and nursing facilities.

Paul earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX in1956. He was also presented the Doctor of Divinity by the Interdenominational Ministries Bible College and Seminary in 1993.

Paul is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and their daughters: Rebecca Baugh and husband Burke; Catherine Cheek and her husband Henry Ruspil; Linda Svensson and her husband Marten. He is also survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his sister, Kathleen Morgan; cousins, nephews and nieces, as well as dear friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Dr Curtis Cheek; sister Patricia Grimm; uncles, aunts, and cousins, as well as beloved friends. There is much rejoicing in Heaven since Paul's arrival.

Visitation will be held from 11 AM - 12 PM, Monday, February 24, 2020, with services to start at 12 PM, in the Mansion at Elfindale Chapel, 1701 S Fort Ave, Springfield, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East FL8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155, 1-866-895-4448, or on the website: AmericanBible.org.