E. Leroy "Roy" Preston

E. Leroy "Roy" Preston, 79, a resident of Valdese, NC for the past five months, made his final journey to his Heavenly Home on Friday, February 07, 2014 at Grace Hospital, Morganton, NC. Those that knew this dear man and his great love for travel, also know that he looked forward with great anticipation and wonder to this time when the Lord Jesus would call his name. He was, first and foremost, a family man who dearly loved his family.Leroy was born November 24, 1934 in Winter Park, FL, a son of the late Alvin and Viola Ellis Preston. After attending Bridgewater College, he joined the Army and after his military duty, his lifelong work was as a licensed mechanical contractor. He and his wife spent most of their life in the Orlando area raising their boys, enjoying friends and family, and worshiping and serving in their church. A lifelong follower of the Lord, Leroy was a Sunday school teacher, a youth leader and an Elder. He loved the Lord. He read and knew and lived the Word of God. He prayed.Leroy was adventurous, inquisitive, loved learning and loved to read. He was fair-minded, believing that, "the punishment should always fit the offense." Remembering him as a great storyteller, with a huge sense of humor will bring smiles to our faces in the ensuing months and years. His friends always knew him as a faithful man….faithful to God, his wife, his family and to his friendships. A rock. An oak tree. We will miss this man we knew, who loved us and always gave us hope and laughter.Left to remember that love and cherish a lifetime of memories are his wife of fifty-three years, Hyla Thompson Preston; his strong and loyal sons, Robert, Randy (Barbara), and Scott (Charlotte); his beloved grandchildren, Brad, Eric, Gary, Candice, and Zeb Preston, and Cheyenne Tawrosza; and his adorable great-grandchildren, Caleb and Ella Preston. Also remembering him, with countless stories to tell, are his brothers, Ron (Charlotte) and Maynard (Roberta); four nephews and a niece. His Uncle Volney lives in Arizona.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a much loved grandson, Joshua Preston.The family wishes to thank and express great gratitude to the doctors and staff at Grace Hospital who cared for Leroy in these final days.The memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, February 10, 2014 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center with Rev. Howard Hoekstra officiating.Memorial gifts in Leroy’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Branch Dr., Greensboro, NC 27407, the American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Affiliate, Memorials and Tributes Processing Center, P. O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216, or to the American Lung Association, 3801 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.