My paternal grandfather was lovingly called "Papa" [and Grandpa Preston] by his family, Preston was a quite and gentle man. He was the eldest of 5 children to Bert and Maggie Abernathy of Anna, Collin County, Texas. His siblings were Leona Abernathy Richter, Wesley Abernathy, Jessie Abernathy Reed, and Eleane Abernathy Newman. These children were raised by their maternal grandparents Andrew [Andy] and Ella Purrsinger Huebsch in Atascosa County, Texas after Maggie's death. My grandfather the eldest was 8 years old at the time of her death. Wesley recently told me that Preston was the favorite of his grandparents and that they did not try to hide it. I have to say that he did not let this go to his head, he was a very humble man and always treated others with great respect.

Preston moved to Freer, Duval County, Texas when he was still a bachelor. That is where he met his bride and raised his family. He was a good man and loved by all that knew him. He married Ruby Mae Barrow in Tilden, Texas and raised 3 sons, Charles, Donald, and Edwin. He was the grandfather of Gwendolyn Jean [Jeanne], Laura Louise, Charles Alton Jr., Mary Allison, Trisha Jo, Bradley Scott, and Joseph Edwin.

One of my favorite memories of my grandfather is one of my first memories of him. I had to be quite small because I would stand in the truck seat beside him as he drove. When we would go to Zapata to fish we would go thru a little town called BUSTAMANTE and we had a game we would play. He would say to me...now what is the name of this town and I would reply BUST MY PANTIES and he would swat me and laugh, silly me I thought it was funny too because I kept on playing the game. Oh the love of a grandpa.