Francis E. Preston

Francis Enoch Preston, 87, died peacefully surrounded by his family on December 12, 2008. He was born on December 15, 1920 in Indianapolis to the late Minnie and George Preston. He graduated from Warren Central High School and in 1942 married his high school sweetheart, Marianna Frakes who survives him. In 1943 he joined the Army Air Corps and spent three years in the Aleutian Islands. Shortly after returning from the war, he purchased a small grocery store at 21st and Ritter from his father and grew this into what became Preston Supermarkets and later Preston Safeway Supermarkets / Allied Grocers. He was in the grocery business for all of his working life. He was a director of the Indiana Retail Grocers Association.. He loved running from store to store and knew most of his employees by their first names. He raised five wonderful children: Donna (David) Taylor, Peggy (Stacy) Thompson, Rosy (Jay) Brownell, Charles (Ann) Preston and Cindy (John) Dinwiddie. He was blessed with 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sister Lola, brother Harold, twin sister Rosanna and infant son Danny. He is survived by his brother Tom Preston. In 1983 he was honored to be the Potentate of the Murat Shrine rising to the level of 33rd degree Mason. His civic life was extremely important to him. He served as Chairman of the Indianapolis Firemen�s Merit Board, served on the board of the Better Business Bureau, the Wright Institute of Otology and the Marion County Zoning Board and he was active in Republican politics.He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the Shriner�s Hospital for Children or Easter Seals Crossroads, 4740 Kingsway Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana 46205.Shirley Brothers Fishers- Castleton Chapel is handling the arrangements for the family. Calling will be at St Luke�s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, on Tuesday, December 16, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke�s on Wednesday, December 17th at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens will follow the memorial service.

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Francis E. Preston

December 15, 1920 - December 12, 2008