Wynford “Wyn” Glen Preston was born on January 10, 1930, in the Township of Afton in Fulton County, Arkansas to Leo Preston and Grace (Cozort) Preston. Wyn graduated from Santa Clara High School in 1948 where he played football and was in the orchestra. After graduation he worked many jobs, including Western Electric, where he helped install the first rotary dial system in San Jose, CA. He also worked as an Engineer at Southern Pacific Railroad until he received his first draft notice. Wyn entered the Army on March 31, 1951.
Dell Kathryn “Kathy” Smith was born on March 14, 1933, in South Fork Arkansas, in Fulton County to Ira Smith and Edna (Williams) Smith. She and her family lived in the South Fork area for many years before moving to Mammoth Spring. Kathy graduated from Mammoth Spring High School in 1951. Around that time, she worked at the local pharmacy. During one of Wyn’s visits to Mammoth Spring to visit family, he and Kathy were engaged before Wyn entered the Army.
Wyn and Kathy wrote to each other throughout the time Wyn was stationed in Japan. While in the Army, Wyn was assigned to the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment. He was an Intelligence and Resonance Scout, and primarily helped train combat troops that were going to Korea. A few months before he returned home, he was trained to be a Ski Instructor on Mount Fuji. Wyn was discharged shortly after he arrived home on March 17, 1953. Wyn indicated in his letters to Kathy that his time abroad was made much easier, for the fact that he had a life with Kathy to look forward to upon his return.
After his discharge, Wyn returned to Arkansas where he and Kathy were married on April 19, 1953, at the Mammoth Spring Church of Christ. Wyn and Kathy then relocated to Santa Clara, CA, where they continued to live the rest of their lives. Wyn returned to work at Southern Pacific where he was an Engineer, driving both steam and diesel engines. Kathy worked for Woolworth retail. On February 2, 1955, they welcomed their first child, Randy, and on February 2, 1956, they welcomed their second child, Karla.
Wyn worked for the City of Santa Clara Fire Department for 25 years, retiring in 1988. During his time in the fire department, he found an old fire truck in the back of the equipment yard, a 1913 Seagraves Chemical Wagon, the first motorized fire vehicle purchased by the City of Santa Clara. He also found a 1927 motor driven water pump, and Ahrens-Fox. With the help of other firefighters, he brought the 1913 Seagraves back to life and it was used in parades for years along with the 1927 Ahrens-Fox.
During his Firefighter career, he drove the Rescue truck and rescued survivors and decedents out of mangled vehicles before Paramedics were used, and before the “Jaws of Life” were available. Additionally, he drove the Hook and Ladder and the first “Cherry Picker.” Firefighters cooked their own meals at the station. Wyn was always welcome at any station he worked because Kathy would bring delicious home-cooked meals instead of Wyn’s cooking. One time, the station he worked at was preparing for a formal inspection by the Fire Chief. Kathy made a plate of fudge, knowing that it was the Chiefs favorite. Wyn placed the fudge at the end of his bed at the station. When the Chief arrived, he saw the fudge, picked up the plate, and ended the inspection. Needless to say, they passed the inspection. Wyn worked at several other stations in the City, finally working at Station 4 just around the corner from home. As their children grew, Wyn and Kathy worked as a team to support their family. Wyn would also volunteer to work holidays for other Firefighters with small children so they could be with their families.
Kathy worked for Kaiser Permanente as a Dietary Aide for 16 years, retiring in 1994. That year, she received a service award after being nominated by colleagues for her friendliness and courtesy, even when the pressure was on. She was credited with being a hard worker who could be counted on to get the job done. Kathy’s quality of being someone to depend on was true in all aspects of her life, especially for her friends and family. Although she worked hard in her career, her primary jobs were as a mother and a grandmother, tending to her family and her beautiful home. Kathy was famous locally for her baking, and she loved to do fashion-design sewing and gardening. Her roses were always the biggest and most colorful in the neighborhood. Everyone always knew that no matter what was going on in their lives, they could always go to Kathy for her love and support.
On December 28, 2020, at White Blossom Care Center in San Jose, CA, Wyn left us. On October 9, 2022, at Sunflower Care Home in Sunnyvale, CA, Kathy left us, surrounded by her family. Their final resting place is at Riverside Cemetery in Mammoth Spring, AR. Wynford and Kathryn are survived by their children, Randy and Karla, their six grandchildren, Jennifer, Alexander, Jason, Robert, John, and Christopher. In addition, they are survived by seven great-grandchildren, Cameron, Sean, Celestina, Amara, Felix, Yogi, and Maleah. On January 10, 2022, a great-great grandson, Lucian was born on what would have been Wyn’s 92nd birthday.
Although they are missed by all who knew and loved them, they remain in our hearts forever.
A memorial service will be held 11am Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Clary Funeral Home in Thayer, MO, with burial in the Riverside Cemetery in Mammoth Spring, AR.
