J. Phillip Preston

Sunday, November 1, 2020
J. Phillip Preston

Graveside services with full military honors for J. Phillip Preston, 83, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at Barrancas National Cemetery at Pensacola Naval Air Station, with Pastor Larry Plank officiating.

Mr. Preston passed away the morning of Oct. 25, 2020, at Beehive Homes of Gulf Breeze, Fla.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Rose Lawn Funeral Home of Gulf Breeze.

Mr. Preston was born March 2, 1937, in East Brady, Penn., to Ruben Preston and Gertrude Wolfe Preston. He wed Maxine Christen Rudy on Sept. 4, 1960, in Meadville, Penn.

He graduated from Clarion State Teachers College and taught sciences and math. Later, he graduated from Texas A&M with a meteorology degree. He also graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

He served in both the Army and Air Force, and he served in Vietnam. He was very proud of having been able to take his family to different locations to live – to be exposed to different countries and traditions. He was part of the Golden Knights parachute team and a master parachutist with over 700 jumps from perfectly good airplanes.

He served as a pastor in Welsh, Socorro and Magdalena, N.M. He was active as a chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol.

Golfing was one of his joys, along with dancing with his wife and telling Bible stories dressed up in character.

From Volksmarches in Germany to walks at the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, and everywhere in between, he loved nature walks. He liked challenges. He has survived lots of things.

Survivors include his daughter, Diane Ruth Preston LaFleur of San Antonio, Texas; his daughter, Susan Lynn Preston Barnett of Lake Charles; his son-in-law and daughter, Stephen and Pamela Sue Preston Prestridge of Navarre, Fla.; his son, Stephen Phillip Preston of Lake Charles; his daughter-in-law, Rose Mary Ledoux Preston of Lake Charles; his brother and sister-in-law, David Preston and TJ Bryan; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Preston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to your favored charity.