Mr. Billy McKinley Cheek, age 76, of Pfafftown, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at Forsyth Medical Center after contracting an infection that did not respond to any antibiotics. He was born on September 16, 1934 in Forsyth County to the late Sherrill M. and Elsie Cheek. Mr. Cheek served 13 of his 20 years in the United States Marine Corps before he was hit by shrapnel-blasted by the Viet-Cong while clearing a village on the Island of Chu Lei off the coast of Vietnam, May 10, 1966 where he lost his eyesight. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his services to his country. After the death of his parents and his brother in 2001, Billy had to come live with his daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Grady Long, Jr. Billy lived out the last years of his life in Pfafftown and they cared for him until his death. Mr. Cheek is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Grady Long, Jr., of Pfafftown; two grandchildren, Nicole Tracy (Neal) Mcinnis of Pfafftown, and Nathaniel Mark Long, of Havelock, NC. Mr. Cheek was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Mark Numa (1972), and a brother. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Huff Funeral Home in East Bend at 2:30 P.M. with Pastor Elisha Robertson officiating. Interment will follow in Westlawn Gardens of Memory with full Military Honors given by Marines from Inspector Instructor Staff, of Greensboro and VFW Memorial Honor Guard. Friends of the family are welcome to come by the home after the burial. The family will receive friends on Friday, September 2, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. at Huff Funeral Home in East Bend, NC. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Disabled American Veterans Dept. of NC, PO Box 28146 Raleigh, NC 27611. In memorials please specify that donations for Disabled American Veterans be used in Forsyth County in memory of Mr. Billy Cheek. Huff Funeral Home of East Bend is respectfully serving the Cheek family. Online memorials may be made at www.hufffuneralhome.com.