Whewon Cho

Dr. Whewon Cho, 76, of Cookeville, TN died September 14, 2015 in his home. Dr. Cho was the son of Jungtai and Daihyun Cho. He immigrated to Nashville, TN from Seoul, South Korea in 1959 and obtained a BA, MA, and PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University. He began teaching at Tennessee Technological University in 1963. Three years later, Provost Prescott and President Derryberry petitioned for his citizenship. Dr. Cho dedicated his life to teaching, retiring in 2004 after 41 years. He primarily taught statistics and microeconomics, and he also served as the Chair of the Department of Economics and Finance and then the Department of Management, Marketing, and Economics for 12 years, collectively. Teaching was his passion, so retirement was not easy. He was always delighted when former students contacted him. Dr. Cho received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Business in 2003, and an advanced technology classroom was built in the College of Business and dedicated in his honor in 2014, with funding from his former students and friends. Dr. Cho was a charter member and helped start the Business Foundation and the Friends of the Library Foundation. He was also a charter member of the Faculty Senate. Dr. Cho helped the Business School attain ASCSB accreditation and start the MBA evening program. He served on several committees within the community and acted as President and Vice President of the Evening Lions Club and Noon Day Rotary Club and was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church. Dr. Cho leaves behind his wife of 48 years Peggy Evans Cho; his son Steven Cho (Amy Cho and children Ariana, Athena, and Amera); son Tracey Cho (Josalyn Cho and children Tayson and Jett); and daughter Tara Cho (Ashley Haskin Cho). Dr. Cho also leaves six siblings, Youngwon Cho, Younghee Hwang, Chayoung Moon, Samyoung Kim, Okja Lee, and Kyoungok Cho and was pre-deceased by his siblings Nakwon Cho and Myoungok Choo. Visitation will be held Friday, September 18, 2015 from 3:00-5:00pm at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner funeral home and Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church. A memorial service will be held at Cookeville First United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at 11:00am with Dr. Martin Thielen officiating. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Contributions to the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center are appreciated in lieu of flowers (details below). Donations may be made online at: https://webapp.mis.vanderbilt.edu/olga/pub/landing?appealCode=A10BP Contributions may also be mailed to: Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center c/o Gifts Processing PMB 407727 2301 Vanderbilt Place Nashville, TN 37240-7727