Jane Acton Preiss

Jane Acton Preiss died on January 12, 2026 at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Communty. She was born on March 20, 1927 in Salem, Oregon. She is the daughter of Paul Hobart Acton and Serena Philips Acton.

She is survived by her sister, Margaret Acton Smith of Napa Valley, CA, her son, Kirk Alan Preiss and daughter in law (Donna Pardue Preiss) of Raleigh, her daughter Gail Preiss Tomlinson and son in law, (Richard P. Dover, Jr.) of Fort Mill, SC., her grandchildren, John Preiss (Jena), Amy Preiss Barger (Kyle), Rebecca Jane Tomlinson (Christopher Grocki), Carrol Finley Tomlinson, Jr. (Lerna), and Edward Philips Tomlinson (Amanda), along with 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Winser Acton, and her beloved husband, Don of 71 years.

Jane graduated from Salem High School in 1945. She was in the National Honor Society, Vice President of her class, had a large circle of friends, and played the flute in the marching band. After graduating she enrolled in Oregon State University where she majored in Home Economics and Nutrition. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

On June 17, 1949, she married Don Preiss in the First United Methodist Church in Salem. This was the church where she and her family had been active members all of her life. She was baptized in this church as a baby.

After their marriage Don and Jane moved to Newark Delaware where he enrolled in graduate school of U of Delaware. She worked for Bell Telephone Co. in Wilmington, Delaware. When he received his Ph.D they moved to Concord, Cal were she devoted herself to being a full-time wife and stay at home mother to her two children – Kirk and Gail. She was always active in PTA, Cub Scouts and Brownies while they were growing up. She was a perfect wife, always there to help her husband through difficult times in his career and participating in making important decisions on career moves which meant relocating several ties between Oregon, Delaware, New York, and with the final move to Raleigh in 1965. Every move involved meeting new people and developing new friendships, something at which she was highly skilled and important to her husband's success. She loved to travel and after the children were in high school, she accompanied her husband on many European business trips. She was a docent at the NC Museum of Art from 1982 to 1990 and a pole worker and judge at elections in Raleigh for several years.

When Don retired, they moved to their home in North Myrtle Beach, SC. While she was living in North Myrtle beach from 1992 to 2009, she was an active member of the Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church and the Surf Golf Club. After moving back to Raleigh in 2009 she rejoined Hayes Barton United Methodist Church and especially enjoyed the friendship of the Circle 8. She was blessed by having wonderful loving children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Her happiest time of all was when the family gathered together. Don and Jane moved to Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community in 2013.

In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Jane Preiss may be made to Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, (to the Growing in Love Fund) PO Box 6088, Raleigh, NC 27608 or Springmoor Life Endowment Fund; at 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 11 am in the Auditorium of Springmoor Retirement Community, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC, 27615. A reception will follow the service at 12:00 in the Great Room at Springmoor.