Martha J Preston

Martha Jane Preston of Midland passed away on Wednesday 2, March 2016. Martha was born in Midland on 17 October 1925 to Midland pioneers and ranchers Walter Boyd Preston and Dorcas Ann Porter. Martha was raised in Midland all her childhood, graduating from Midland High School. She cherished her memories of growing up in Midland and enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood. In 1947 she received her education degree from North Texas State Teachers College. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Walter Boyd Preston Jr., her nephew Marion Flynt Preston and her niece Ramona Preston. Her survivors are her beloved grandnieces Ms. Devin Rondeau, husband Justin and to Martha’s great delight their newborn son William of Brooklyn, New York; and Ms. Gillian Preston of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along with their mother Sammie Preston of Houston, Texas.

Martha was a librarian at both Midland Lee High School and Goddard Junior High School where she retired on 23 April 1981. Martha’s passions during her life were her faith, travelling, family genealogy and fittingly books. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Midland for many years, which allowed her to practice her faith and meet many lifelong friends. Upon her retirement from the Midland school system Martha spent two years as a missionary at a Puerto Rican Seminary and continued to travel throughout the world with her friends and fellow church members.

She had twelve very dear friends who knew each other since Sunday school at the First Baptist Church in the 1950s. They would meet every year at the same location near Hunt Texas, and they called their selves the Hunt Bunch. She will be remembered by all for her Christian faith, zeal for life, love for travel, quest for knowledge and extensive friendships.

Martha’s life celebration will take place at the Chapel of the First Baptist Church in Midland at 10:00 A.M.. She will be interned at the Resthaven cemetery in Midland next to her parents and niece.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the First Baptist Church Child Development Center, First Baptist Church Midland Missions, or your charity of choice.