Jean Bender Preston

1933 - 2020

Jean Bender Preston

Jean Bender Preston of Akron, Ohio and Naples, Florida died surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 at the age of 86.

She was born in Peninsula, Ohio on November 30, 1933 to the late Elizabeth and Henry Bender.

Happily married for 49 years, she was the beloved wife of the late Ernest R. Preston Jr. Meeting on a blind date in high school, they married in 1953. After a stint in the Navy in St. Simons Island, Ga., they moved back to Akron to start their family of 4 children and enjoyed a wonderful circle of friends. Over the years they built Jaite Packaging, Inc. where Jean served as VP of Jaite Investments.

Since the age of nine, southwest Florida was a major part of Jean's life. The Bender family would spend the winter months in their home in St. Petersburg, where Jean and siblings Gail and Bob attended primary school. For high school and college, Jean returned north and graduated from The Laurel School in Cleveland and Briarcliff College in Briarcliff Manor, NY.

She was compassionate, thoughtful and assertive. She was a great delegator and was always efficient in her philanthropic endeavors. She gave freely of her time to multiple community organizations, most notably Past-President of The Junior League of Akron, Trustee Emeritus of Old Trail School, member of the Women's Board of Akron Children's Hospital, member of the Akron Garden Club, Past-Chair of the Trinity-by-the-Cove's Naples Antique Show, and helped establish the Naples Botanical Garden. She was a longtime member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Akron, Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, Naples, Portage Country Club, and Port Royal Club.

Her passions included dancing with Ernie, her gardens, flower arranging, entertaining, and cooking…she could master any recipe. She relished interior design and construction projects. A loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, family was a priority and she always made it fun.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband, Ernie; son, Edward "Ted" Preston; and brother, Robert C. Bender. She is survived by her children, Lisa Preston (James) Bertles of Palm Beach, FL, Ernest R. "Chip" (Laura Billow) Preston, III of Akron, and Page Preston (Jeff) Growney of New Canaan, CT; 10 grandchildren, Kate Bertles (James) Hennigan, Preston Bertles (Peter) Stamm, and Alex Bertles, Thomas, Ted, Mettler, and Elizabeth Growney, Haley, Annie, and Tether Preston; and 3 great grandchildren, James and Caroline Hennigan and William Stamm. She is also survived by sister, Gail Bender McLean; and sister-in-law, Donna Reycraft Bender.

A Memorial service will be held at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church on March 26, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church, 553 Galleon Dr., Naples, FL 34102, Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples, FL 34112 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601 www.alz.org. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence, or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)