Preston was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 25,1944. A southerner through and through, he spent his youth as a lifeguard on local beaches. Preston was a competitive swimmer at Florida State and graduated with a degree in Criminology, and a master’s degree in Sports Medicine. A good friend, George, said, “Preston was the consummate lifeguard, an expert swimmer, mentor and best of all, a good friend. I will miss our talks about life and a favorite of Preston's - competitive swimming. How many lifeguards do you know that have revived a Dachshund on the beach? Preston’s presence on the Neptune beach patrol made us unrivaled by any other beach patrol on Duval county beaches.” And for several years, Preston won the Life Guard Marathon Swim Competition at Jacksonville Beach.

Preston was a dedicated weight lifter, who followed a physical fitness regimen to maintain his health, muscle strength and tone. He entered the Mr. D.C. contest one year, and took 5th place. His gym friend, Bart, said, “Preston out lifted the majority of persons at the gym that were 15-20 years younger, and was an inspiration, and a joy to be with.”

He was also proficient in numerous forms of martial arts. He was a life-long swimmer, guitar player, singer with a beautiful voice, a competitive shooter who manufactured his own ammunition, and an avid reader, with a 3,000-book library to satisfy his unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He had the ability to master just about anything he put his mind to.

Preston began his career in the Coast Guard as an Aviation Electronics Technician for a couple of years prior to attending Coast Guard Officers Candidate School. This was followed by U.S. Navy Fixed Wing Flight Training, then by fixed wing flight training at Pensacola, Florida.

And from his friend Les, “Preston Howland was an avid pilot who loved flying in the Coast Guard. After flight training, he was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Corpus Christi flying search and rescue missions, and law enforcement patrols in the HU-16E Albatross aircraft. This was followed by a tour at CGAS Washington where he flew the VC-11A and VC-4 aircraft transporting VIP’s all over the world. Due to his experience flying jets at CGAS Washington, LCDR Preston Howland was selected to be in the initial cadre of the HU-25A Guardian Training Branch at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, AL. Preston was an integral part of a program for the development of the HU-25 pilot training curriculum. As Preston was for all of his jobs, he was passionate in his role for pilot training.”

After 20 years in the Coast Guard, Preston’s flying career continued as a private pilot for Paul Mellon (Mellon Bank, philanthropist and owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses), followed by 17 years flying for Federal Express. We will all remember Preston as a pilot, and a vet, who once said that if he could get it started, he could fly anything. He even had a balloon rating.

Preston returned to heaven on December 19, 2023. We will all miss such an accomplished person. His wife, of 37 years, Trudy, always considered herself the luckiest girl in the world to have fallen in love with, and married such a remarkable man.