Wilda Lee Preston Gibson

MANSFIELD: Wilda Lee Preston Gibson, 91 wife of David M. Gibson and long-time resident of Mansfield, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Lee Gibson was born on December 1, 1922 in Trotwood, Ohio (Montgomery County) to the late Frank List Jr. and Dora Steck List. Her father was a long-time attorney in Dayton, Ohio.

Wilda Lee was graduated from Madison -Trotwood High School in 1941 and attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she majored in interior decoration and was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority.

At college she met and married Naval Lieutenant j.g. Keith MacFarland of Lorain, Ohio in 1943.
A fond memory of Lee's was her invitation to dine with the officers of the U.S.S. Indianapolis, the ship to which Keith was assigned in the Second World War.
At the time, the Indianapolis was in San Francisco for repairs following a Japanese kamikaze attack.
In 1945 at the end of the war her husband was killed when the U.S.S. Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine.

In 1947 Lee married Burton (Bob) Preston, a graduate of Cornell University. He was an established civil engineer who later was president-owner of the Purdy Construction Company for many years. Bob Preston died in 1996.

Lee was a long time member of the First Congregational Church where she taught Sunday School, and served on many committees.
She was also a member of the Mansfield Sailing Club, Investment Club, Charity Club, and Westbrook Country Club.
Lee served on the boards of the Humane Society, the Third Street Clinic, the Mansfield Art Center, and Richland County Transit.

In 2001 Lee married David Gibson who grew up in Mansfield (Senior High 1941) and was an old buddy of Bob Preston..

Lee is survived by her husband, David Gibson of Mansfield, Ohio, her daughter Wendy Roper (Randy) of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, her sons Burton Preston (Prue) of various Atlantic ports, Brad Preston (Betty) of Bellville; stepsons/step-daughters Carl Gibson (Patricia), John Gibson, Shauna Gibson, Heather Garrison (Joe), Mark Gibson (Laura) all of Indianapolis; grandsons; Burton Preston (Liz) of Madison, Wisconsin, Bryan Preston (Beth) of Charlestown, Rhode Island, Scott Roper (Jenny) of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Kerey Roper of San Francisco, and David Roper of Akron; and 11 step-grandsons/step-granddaughters, 2 great-grandsons (William and Daniel Preston) and a brand new great granddaughter (Isabella Preston.)

Friends may call Friday, September 12, 2014 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm in the Marion Avenue Snyder Funeral Home (Former Finefrock Funeral Home).

A funeral service honoring the life of Wilda Lee Preston will be held Saturday at 2 pm in First Congregational Church, 640 Millsboro Road, Mansfield, OH.
Burial will be in Mansfield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to First Congregational Church or the Richland County Foundation may be made at the funeral home, or mailed to Snyder Funeral Home, P.O. Box 3085, Mansfield, Ohio 44904.

Expressions of sympathy and support may be made to the Preston family by visiting:www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Sister: Charlotte List Powell Young (1916 - 2011)