Louise Preston

Louise Preston, 78, of Monaca, a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, went to meet her Lord and Savior on Friday, September 30, 2016.  Her passing occurred following a brief illness.Born October 21, 1937, in Monaca, she was a daughter of the late Clarence Eugene and Bertha (Majors) Smith.  Following graduation from Monaca High School, Louise worked for six years at a local wholesale grocery store, W. E. Osbornes in New Brighton, while Elmer ‘Ab’ Preston worked across the street at Baker’s Service Station.  Louise just loved to get gas there, along with getting her windshield cleaned as well.  She had her eye on the handsome lad who worked there and, as in a fairy tale, Louise was later united in marriage to Ab on February 13, 1959, at the First Baptist Church in New Brighton.  Together they started a family which included a daughter, Carolyn, and a son, Brian.A devout Christian, Louise was actively involved in her church, the Monacrest Free Methodist Church in Monaca and demonstrated her faith in numerous capacities. As a young girl, Louise was a quiz master of the church’s Bible quiz team.  A steward of the church, she volunteered in Christian Youth Crusaders (CYC) for many years, Louise later became its director.  She was also a member of Young Peoples Missionary Society (YPMS) and involved in Mothers of Preschool Students (MOPS). Louise was a member of the choir, a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School (VBS) teacher and involved in various mission projects which included making crafts for nursing homes and sending dresses overseas for missions, along with overseeing the church’s landscape for many years.    Louise had said to her family that she did not want to sound as though she participated in all aspects of the church, but her family told her that she should have thought about that some 30 years ago before she volunteered and raised her hand so many times.Louise and Ab were always spending time with her family, which included Carolyn moving in with Louise and Ab in 2006, and making frequent trips to Brian and Shawn’s in Lynchburg, VA, Frederick, MD and then finally Warrenton, VA.  Travelling with family included trips to Aunt Dot’s camp in the mountains, Cedar Point, Florida, the Bahamas, Acapulco, the western states, and the Atlantic Ocean.She leaves to mourn her loss her beloved husband of 57 years, Elmer ‘Ab’; a daughter, Carolyn Preston of Monaca; a son, Brian (Shawn) Preston, of Warrenton, VA; two grandchildren, Hannah and Cara Preston; six siblings, Ronald (Phyllis) Smith of Enon Valley, Jack T. (Evelyn) Smith of Center Township, Paul (Jane) Smith of Monaca, Mary (Nick) Hodnick of Monaca, Robert (Pat) Smith of Cranberry Township and William T. (Ana) Smith of Rochester Township; a sister-in-law, Karen Smith of New Sewickley Township; an aunt, Evelyn L. ‘Dot’ Smith also of New Sewickley Township, along with a host of nieces and nephews.In addition to her parents, Louise was preceded in death by a brother, Richard.Friends will be received Tuesday, October 4^th, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Simpson Funeral & Cremation Services, 1119 Washington Avenue, Monaca.  An additional visitation will be held Wednesday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10 a.m. at Monacrest Free Methodist Church, corner of Elmira and Walnut Streets, Monaca.Interment will follow in Grove Cemetery, New Brighton.Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, in Louise’s memory to the Monacrest Free Methodist Church, Monaca.To share online condolences, get directions and other information, please visit simpsonfuneralhome.com.