Maj. James Preston, Usaf (Ret.)

J. Phillip Preston, 83, of Navarre, went to be with Jesus, October 25, 2020, at home in the BeeHive Homes of Gulf Breeze. He was born March 2, 1937, in East Brady, Pennsylvania, son of the late Ruben and Gertrude Wolfe Preston.

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, LA; Socorro and Magdalena, NM. 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.

He was a member of the Navarre Presbyterian Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Preston.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine Rudy Preston; brother, David Preston; daughter, Diane Ruth Preston LaFleur of San Antonio, TX, daughter, Susan Lynn Preston Barnett of Lake Charles, LA; son in law and daughter, Stephen and Pamela Sue Preston Prestridge of Navarre, FL; son, Stephen Phillip Preston of Lake Charles, LA; daughter-in-law Rose Mary Ledoux Preston of Lake Charles, LA; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A funeral cortege will line up at 12:00pm, Monday, November 02, 2020, at the Blue Angel Campus – Liberty Church, 2221 S. Blue Angel Parkway, Pensacola, FL 32506, and will depart promptly at 12:30pm.  All who wish to attend that do not have a credential for access to NAS Pensacola, must enter and exit the installation with the funeral procession.  The service and full military honors will begin at 1:00pm at Barrancas National Cemetery, Shelter A, 1 Cemetery Road, Pensacola, FL 32508.

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