* Roy Preston, 100; Oil Industry Veteran

Santa Paula resident Roy Preston has died at the age of 100.

Preston, who died April 10, was born July 11, 1898, in Norwood, Mo. He was an 11-year county resident who came to Santa Paula from Riverside.

Preston worked in the oil industry for more than 20 years. He married his first wife, Betty, in 1924 and the couple bought a 120-acre ranch in Riverside.

Before moving to California, Preston had been an ordained minister. He was forced to stop preaching when his voice failed, rendering him unable to give sermons.

Many years later in Riverside, he was able to teach adult Sunday school classes.

After he sold his Riverside ranch, Preston ran a retail shoe business for 15 years until he retired. In retirement, he volunteered at the Hume Lake Christian Center in Riverside County.

After the death of his first wife, Preston married Nora Mae about 10 years ago. They traveled to the Middle East and Italy when Preston was 94.

He is survived by Nora Mae Preston of Santa Paula; two sons and a daughter; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service Monday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Santa Paula. Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary is handling the arrangements.

Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.