Lovanda Preston

Lovanda Isabell Fisher Preston, 84, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2013. She was born Nov. 7, 1928, in Iola, the daughter of Claude Dean and Mildred Sarah Cummings Fisher. She had two sisters, Betty Hill and Patricia Doyle and two half-brothers, Leroy Moore and Marvin Moore, all of whom have preceded her in death. She is survived by a son, Taylor Preston, of Shawnee, KS and she had three grandchildren. Lovanda attended Iola schools graduating in 1946. She then worked as a telephone operator for Southwestern Bell. Later that year she contracted polio leaving her wearing a leg brace and using crutches. In January of 1948, she attended Usuline College in Paola, KS. She graduated in May 1949 with a Liberal Arts degree. She transferred to Marymount College, Salina, KS, graduating in 1951 with a degree in Education. She was awarded a teaching certification from the State of Kansas in August. In late 1951, Lovanda began teaching at Waverly school, a one-room schoolhouse northeast of LaHarpe, KS. The school had a total of 11 students spanning 8 grades. In 1954, she married Leslie Leroy Preston and lived in Iola and later Piqua. Lee was the co-owner and manager of the Piqua grain elevator. Lee preceded her in death in 1993. Lovanda returned to Iola in 1975 where she resumed teaching school full time and later as a substitute. Lovanda taught school for over 16 years at several schools in Allen county (LaHarpe, Gas City, Iola) and in Woodson county (Piqua and Yates Center), with her last teaching year at McKinley school in Iola. She was an active member of the March of Dimes Association and had served on its Board of Directors. She was a volunteer for and past President of the Allen County Mental Health Association. She also worked with Volunteers of the Courts for childrens organizations and was a charter member of the Iola Lions Club. Lovanda was a member of the Iola United Methodist Church. Cremation has taken place.