Herman Ronald Preston was born on July 26, 1936 and died on July 19, 2026. He was 89 years old.

Born in Ceredo WV to Herman E. Preston and Daisy Stafford Preston. Ron grew up in the West Moreland neighborhood of Huntington WV. He was a 1954 graduate of Vinson HS where he played baseball and was an all-state trumpet player in the Vinson band. He attended Marshall College (University) and graduated in 1958 with a degree in biology. He also attended Ohio State University graduate school studying aquatic biology. He also studied aquatic sciences at The Ohio State University's Stone Lab on South Bass Island on Lake Erie in 1958.

Ron married his high school sweetheart, Carol Lee Chandler, on May 25, 1957, celebrating 69 years together. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Carol of Barnesville OH; son, Bret Preston (Leanna); and daughters Cathy Butler (Tom); and Ronna Allen (Rick); grandchildren Brandi Little (Justin) Bryce Allen (Ashli), Blake Allen (Carissa), Nathan Butler (Mindy), Alyson Popiolkowski (Matt), Emily Preston (Brieg) and Anne Harney (Isaiah); great grandchildren, Kennedy Little, Madyson (Brady) Wildes, Campbell Allen, Carter Allen, Chandler Allen, Alexis Thomas; Porter Popiolkowski, Quinn Popiolkowski, Audrey Butler, Margot Butler; great-great grandchildren, Murphy Wildes, and Benjamin Harney; brother-in-law, Jim (Kay) Chandler. Also surviving are his cousins Phil Pruitt of Kentucky and Brenda Sanders of North Carolina.

Ron delighted in his family. From family vacations, holiday dinners, grandchildren's sporting and school events, to sitting with family on the front porch, he loved the sounds and sights of family gatherings. He also enjoyed time spent outdoors fishing, upland bird hunting over a classic point of a bird dog, and going for a hike, especially in his beloved Appalachian hills and hollows.

His love of nature led to his career in natural resources and aquatic sciences. He began working as a fisheries biologist for the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources in 1959. In 1964, he began his career with the federal government as an aquatic biologist with the U.S. Public Health Service in Wheeling WV. In 1970, his position became a part of the newly created U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was very proud of the contributions the Wheeling Field Office made for environmental improvements to the region's rivers and streams.

Ron was a Christian, and he and Carol were active and faithful members of First United Methodist Church in BarnesvilleOH. He also was active in several civic organizations in the Barnesville community that he dearly loved, including the Hutton Library Board of Trustees, Barnesville Area Education Foundation, Barnesville Rotary Club, and the CaptinaConservancy.

Ron's family would like to thank all of the staff of the Walton Home and Hospice of Guernsey for their compassionate care.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 11:00am until the time of the service at 1:00pm with Pastor Van Fisher officiating at Campbell-Plumly-Milburn Funeral Home, 319 North Chestnut Street, Barnesville, Ohio. Burial will follow at Crestview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Ron's memory to the First United Methodist Church of Barnesville, Barnesville Hutton Memorial Library, The Walton Home, or Hospice of Guernsey.