Passed away at the age of 88 at home on Tuesday, January 13, 2015, 10 days short of his 89th birthday. A gentle, kind, humble man has departed this life to continue his eternal journey. Born January 23, 1926, in Salt Lake City to Preston D. and Barbara Maughn Howell Richards. Growing up in Beverly Hills, California, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps after high school and was part of the occupying force in Japan after WWII. Upon his honorable discharge, he served an LDS mission to the Eastern States. He relished the experience of working on the first Hill Cumorah Pageant. After his mission, he attended BYU and met his future wife, Beverly Jane Alvord. Married on August 1, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple for 62 years. Preston was a sports enthusiast, attending numerous ball games with his brother-in-law. His sense of direction was unparalleled. From a young age, he enjoyed his cabin in the pines and hiking the mountains of his beloved Mt. Air. Family was most important to him and he was knowledgeable about his family history and took pride in his pioneer heritage. With a deep love of the Savior, he bore a strong and firm testimony of the Gospel. Throughout his life, he served faithfully and attended the temple regularly. During the 1980s, he and Beverly served a 3-year mission to the Liberty Stake. Exhibiting dependability and integrity, he worked hard to provide for his family in the food production industry. During the last 12 years of his life, he served as a school crossing guard smiling and waving as the cars passed him on the way to school.
Survived by his wife, Beverly, 3 children: Preston Stevens (Gail), SLC, Cathy Ann (David) Purdie, SLC and Jana Marie (Per-Erik) Johansen, Texas, 3 granddaughters, Analise (Dan) Jenson, Caitlin (Randy) Logan, and Catrine Johansen, and 2 great grandchildren. Preceding him in death: his son, Ronald Alvord, parents and 3 sisters.
Funeral services will be held Monday, January 19, 2015 at noon at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 S. Wastach Drive, SLC. Friends may call 10:30 ‚ 11:30 AM prior to services. Interment is Tuesday, January 20, 1 PM at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. "Goodnight sweet prince. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
