BARBARA JANE PRESTON

Barbara Jane Preston April 22, 1922-Oct. 21, 2010 Barbara Jane Preston (Burke) passed away peacefully on October 21, 2010, in San Rafael. She was born in San Francisco on April 22, 1922, to Frank J. and Emma Mockel Burke. She was raised in the West Portal District where she lived most of her life, until 2001, after the passing of her beloved husband of 60 years, former San Francisco Police Inspector, Edward C. Preston, and her son, Edward F. Preston, both in March 2000. She lived for several years at The Regent, San Mateo, four years at Lawton Healthcare in San Francisco, and her last two years at Aegis of Corte Madera. Barbara is survived by her son, James B. Preston, her daughter-in-law, Bonnie A. Preston (Rubin), of Visalia, CA, her grandson Jason P. Preston, and his wife, Brenna Preston-Shenkin, and two great granddaughters, Ellis and Hadley Preston, all of Encino, CA, and her grandson, Scott B. Preston of San Francisco. Barbara lived a full life having attended West Portal Grammar School, Aptos Junior High School, Lowell High School and the University of California, at Berkeley. She and her husband enjoyed traveling throughout the world, but they always returned to their beloved Hawaii for the sun. She, the former Bobbie Burke, was the first female runner in the famed Bay To Breakers race in 1940, which her husband won in 1938, 1939 and 1940. She retired from the Department of Employment, State of California, specializing in the placement of youth into the Job Corps. A memorial Mass will be held in her name at St Brendan's Church, 29 Rockaway Avenue (Ulloa and Laguna Honda), San Francisco, at 12:00 noon, Saturday, December 4, 2010. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.