Herman “Homer” Preston Sr., 83, of Mansfield, died Monday, March 21, 2016 at Arbors at Mifflin.
Born Feb. 7, 1933 in Elkhorn, West Virginia, he was the son of Willie and Dinah (Hairston) Preston.
A veteran of the United States Army, he worked in the coal mines while living in West Virginia. He moved to the Mansfield area in the late 1950s and worked on automobiles as a mechanic and body man.
Homer was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses East Congregation and the American Legion Post 676 in Mansfield. He was a fan of the Cleveland Browns, loved to dance and enjoyed blues music.
He is survived by his children, Linda Preston, of Mansfield, Herman (Catherine) Preston Jr., of Mansfield, Calvin (Marilyn) Preston Sr., of Mansfield, Christopher (Cassandra) Preston Sr., of Columbus, and Tim (Lynn) Preston, of Mansfield; 10 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Shirley Belcher, of Mansfield; sisters-in-law, Evelyn (Danny) Rawls and Wyzoetta White; and numerous nieces and nephews including Janice (Rev. Michael) Phillips, of Washington D.C.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Doretha (Reed) Preston in December 2004; four sisters, Irene, Dorothy, Mattie and Lena; and three brothers, Richard, Lincoln and Willie.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2016 at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Mansfield Cemetery where full military honors will be conducted by the Richland County Joint Veterans Service.
Words of comfort may be expressed at www.wappner.com.
