URBANA - Charles G. Preston, 84, of Urbana died Sunday, December 27th at Carle Hospital.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, December 30th at Grace United Methodist Church, Urbana. There will be no visitation. Burial will be at Locust Grove Cemetery, Philo with Pastor Mike Smith officiating. Renner-Wikoff Chapel 1900 S. Philo Rd. Urbana is handling the arrangements.

Charles Preston was born in River, Kentucky and joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 with service in both the Atlantic and Pacific Campaigns on a Destroyer Escort. He was a life member of both the Destroyer Escort and Patrol Craft Associations. He worked for the University of Illinois, in the Electrical Engineering Department for 35 years, retiring in 1978. He was also self-employed as a calligrapher for the Eta Kappa Nu Association for 44 years. He also did textbook illustrations for McGraw Hill in Electrical Engineering textbooks.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother. Survivors include his wife, Alpharetta Dilley, and two sons, Troy (wife Mary) Preston of Homer, IL and Tony (wife Jeanne) Preston of Orland Park, IL. One brother, James (wife Clara) Preston of Urbana, OH and three sisters, Laura (husband Lowell) Bailey of Richmond, KY, Betty Spencer of Urbana, OH, and Bonnie (husband Larry) Meade of Baltimore, OH. Also six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Charles was a member of American Legion Post #71 and VFW Post #630. His life's greatest joy was going to Washington, D.C. on an Honor Flight for recognition of his World War II service.

Memorials may be made to the Grace United Methodist Church, Urbana, IL. Condolences may be offered at renner-wikoffchapel.com.