Chu-yuan Cheng

Chu-yuan Cheng

April 8, 1925 - Feb. 9, 2024

Professor Chu-yuan Cheng died on February 9, 2024. He was born on April 8, 1925, in Puning, China. He died two months shy of his 99th birthday.

After graduating from National Zhengzhi University in Chongqing China in 1947, he immigrated to the United States in 1958 to pursue his Ph.D. in Economics from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He received his doctorate in 1962 and married Alice Hua Liang Cheng in 1964.

They were married over 59 years. She survives him; as do his daughter, Dr. Anita Lee (Dennis) of Bloomington, IL; and his son, Hon. Andrew Y.S. Cheng (Yvonne) of Piedmont, CA; and five grandchildren: Alexander Lee, Olivia Lee, Samuel Cheng, Joshua Cheng, and Anne Cheng.

He taught at the University of Michigan, where both Anita and Andy were born, and Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, before starting a 37-year career at Ball State University in 1971. He received the Outstanding Researcher Award from Ball State and published over forty books in English and Chinese.

Upon his retirement in 2008, he was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus by Ball State University. A career highlight occurred in 1992, when he met Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, the first of twenty government-sponsored trips to assist China with its economic modernization and reform.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Muncie at a time to be determined in the summer.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial gifts to the Dr. Chu-yuan and Alice Cheng Merit Endowment Scholarship, Ball State University, Department of Economics, Muncie, IN 47304, or the charity of the donor's choice.

Cremation rites have been accorded by Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.