Ruth Preston

Ruth Allene Preston, born January 14, 1926, in Tarpley, Texas to John Marshall Tyra and Lillian Beatrice Billings.
Ruth grew up around the Tarpley and Medina areas, and later moved to Utopia where her father ranched on the Pilot Ranch. She graduated from Utopia High School on May 22, 1943. She attended Trinity University that fall then transferred to Texas State College for Women from 19451946.
She met a handsome Marine, Jack Bane Preston, and they were married on July 14, 1946 in Ft. Worth, Texas. They had two children, Ruth Ann Preston Hunter and Jack Bane Preston, Jr.
She and Jack ranched north of Utopia near Vanderpool, from 1946 1968. They then sold the ranch and bought a small acreage south of Utopia.
In 1962, Ruths desires to be a teacher led her to finish her B.S. degree in elementary education. She graduated from Sul Ross State University in May 1963. She applied for her first teaching job that fall at Utopia ISD and taught for seven years under L.L. Tubbs and O.T. Sears. She then transferred to Sabinal ISD for one year, and then to Bandera ISD in 1980 where she taught for eight years, before returning to the school she loved so much, Utopia ISD. She taught there from 1988 until she retired in 1997.
Children were her love and she wanted every child to succeed to the best of their ability. There was always time for a hug and a smile on the playground. She always strived to accommodate parents and all their concerns. Ruth was a passionate and gentle soul who cared about others.
In 1985, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and was blessed with a complete recovery. Ten years later, she was stricken with a heart attack and four bypasses. She was determined to heal and start back to school in August. She returned to the classroom and continued teaching until the age of 78.
Ruth was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, member of the Garden Club and the United Methodist Church all of Utopia. Cooking for her family brought her great joy and family was the center of her life.
Preston died peacefully at the Castroville, Texas nursing home on Friday, December 27, 2013. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lillian Tyra, and her husband, Jack. She is survived by one daughter, Ruth Ann Hunter and husband, Larry, of Lubbock one son, Jack Preston Jr. and wife, Becky, of San Antonio a brother, John Tyra of Lake Hills, TX four granddaughters, Wende Preston, of San Antonio, Holly Bratland and husband, Tim, of Willow Lake, South Dakota, Jodee Preston of San Antonio and Laura Jackson and husband, Caleb of Orange, TX two greatgranddaughters, Morgan Bratland and Katelynn Welch two greatgrandsons, Chase and Shane Bratland a niece, Lisa Greer and husband, Lawrence and a nephew, Kevin Tyra along with several great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 2:00 PM at the Utopia Methodist Church with burial to follow in Jones Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Howard Billings, Tim Bratland, Lawrence Greer, Caleb Jackson, David Rainey and Lonnie Shelton.
Memorial donations may be made to the Utopia I.S.D., PO Box 880, Utopia, TX 78884.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
410 Cullins
Sabinal, TX  78881
Saturday, December 28, 2013
4:00 pm

Service

Funeral Service

Utopia Methodist Church
200 Church St.
Utopia, TX  78884
Sunday, December 29, 2013
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Jones Cemetery
Utopia
Utopia, TX  78884