Donald Scarff Preston

Donald Scarff Preston, 98, passed away on June 15, 2021. He was born on April 30, 1923, in Bel Air, MD, the only child of the late R. Stanley and Alice Marshall (Scarff) Preston. Mr. Preston was a graduate of Bel Air High School as well as The George School, in Newtown, Bucks County, PA. He enlisted in the US Navy during World War II and served in the Communications Division as a Signalman on a variety of Liberty Ships in the European, India and Pacific Theaters.

At the close of the War, he returned to Bel Air and married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Betty) Wright. At the same time, he joined his father in the family business, Preston’s Stationery Store, which had been established at 33 South Main Street in 1926. Upon his father’s retirement, Don became President of the business and moved the operation to a new building at 319 South Main Street where it remains today. Over the years, he was involved in a number of community and business organizations. He was a long-standing member and Past President of the Bel Air Rotary Club, served as President of the Tuberculosis Association of Harford County, served as a member of the Planning and Zoning Board for the Town of Bel Air as well as a Town Commissioner for a short term. He served two terms as a Director of the Harford County Library Board and was also a member of the Board of Directors for the Commercial and Savings Bank (now BB&T Bank). Mr. Preston was a member and Past President of the Baltimore Stationers Association; he also was a member of the National Office Products Association (NOPA) where he served a term as District Governor for District 3 and later served as the Assistant Treasurer. Don was a long time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air and a charter member of the Mt. Gretna Group. Don and Betty were recognized by the Harford County Council as Harford County Living Treasures in 2011.

Having both been born and raised in Bel Air, Don and Betty continued the family tradition and raised their four children there as well. Family was everything. And when not working in the family store, Don spent as much time as possible with the family at their cabin on the Susquehanna River. Many happy hours were spent teaching the kids (and their kid’s friends) to swim, water ski, and sail. In the early 1960’s, Don became interested in snow skiing and subsequently taught all four children to snow ski. Annual snow skiing trips to Hidden Valley in Somerset, PA, or to the Poconos, Vermont, New York, and Canada were always a winter highlight.

When he retired in the early 1980’s, Don and Betty purchased a motor coach and toured all over the United States (including Alaska) and Canada. They became snowbirds and would spend their winters in Florida and their summers at the Cabin on Broad Creek. Having lived in Bel Air for 70 years, in 1993, Don and Betty moved to the Glen Meadows Retirement Community in Glen Arm, MD.

Don is survived by Betty, his wife of 75 years, his son, Robert M. Preston, Sr. (Susan), his daughters, Marcia L. Zbikowski (Joel), Ann G. Ragan (Danny) and Lauren P. Andrews (Robert), seven grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: First Presbyterian Church, 224 North Main Street, Bel Air, MD, 21014.