| Date of Birth | September 18, 1935 |
| Date Deceased | January 18, 2024 |
| Hometown | Howard |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Location | Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, Avoca |
| Interment Location | Valley View Cemetery, Avoca |
Barry J. Preston
HOWARD – Barry J. Preston, 88, passed away Thursday (Jan. 18, 2024) at Elderwood at Hornell.
Born in Avoca, NY on Sept. 18, 1935, a son of Ralph E. and Belle Rose (Reynolds) Preston. On Oct. 12, 1961 he was married in Wallace, NY to Patricia Heard Preston, who predeceased him on Oct. 11, 2017 after 56 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by one son, Timothy Preston and a son-in-law, Michael Taylor.
Barry was employed by the Steuben County Highway Department as a truck driver.
An avid Dale Earnhart fan, he enjoyed playing cards, bingo, coffee with the boys and tinkering.
Surviving are three children, Michael (Deborah) Preston of Bath, NY, Michele Taylor of Shinglehouse, PA and Kevin (Anna) Preston of Bath, NY; seven grandchildren, Melinda Preston (Christopher Cleary), Heather (Nik) Preston Chase, Kayla Taylor (Michael O’Sullivan), Kyle (Sierra) Taylor, Aaron (Samantha) Preston, Megan Preston and Zachary Preston; five great-grandchildren, Ryan Cleary, Zoey Chase, Theodore Preston, Wesley Preston and Roseallee Taylor; two sisters, Carol Preston of Avoca, NY and Dinah Mayer of Lima, NY; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
There will be no calling hours. A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family at the Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., AVOCA. Interment will be in Valley View Cemetery, Avoca.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to their favorite charity.
A special thank you to the staff and his “gals” at Elderwood at Hornell.
The Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Barry’s family with the arrangements.
Online condolences or remembrances of Barry are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
My heart is broken. Barry became a good friend of my father Herm at Elderwood. His dry humor and matter of fact comments put many a smile on many faces. He loved winning at Bingo and enjoyed playing cards with his “buddies”. He will be surely missed by all those who had the honor of knowing him especially me and my sister Pam. May he rest in peace and be reunited with the love of his life.
Barry was a sweet man that will be missed💕
I will so miss my friend…I will miss our morning hugs. It won’t be the same walking into activities and seeing u sitting there or our chats… Raise kain in heaven my friend
As my nextdoor neighbor for almost half my life, Barry was like a second father to me. I could tell stories for days about how he helped me develop a love for mechanical things… which is the path I ultimately took in life. I can’t imagine where I’d be had Barry not been a mentor of mine.
There is nothing I regret more right now than losing touch with him a while back. Sincere condolences to the entire family and all of his friends. They don’t make people like him anymore and I will remember him fondly for the rest of my life.
Dear Carol and family. I am sorry to read of the loss of Barry. He was a good man and many of us will miss him. Love and prayers, Donna Miller
Barry was the best neighbor and friend that one could have. Our years in Howard would have been so different if Barry hadn’t been there to rely on, joke with, and mostly to be Larry’s best friend and a second father to Ryan.
I am heartbroken to hear of his passing.