Penny Preston Bamford

Penny was born in Virginia to Eden Taylor Preston, a naval aviator from Georgia, and Natalie Willis Pease from New York. When she was four years old, the family moved from Virginia to Long Island, New York, where she grew up with younger brothers Buddy and Alan.

Penny graduated from Garden City High School in 1960 and Centre College of Kentucky in 1964. She majored in Psychology and minored in Art and Religion. Among her fondest childhood memories, Penny was a standout cheerleader in both high school and college.

After running a daycare business in her home while raising four sons, Penny went to work for Great American Bank. She quickly advanced and served as a branch manager at Great American and later at Wells Fargo Bank for many years. She rose to become a Vice President and received numerous “golden coach” awards from the bank during her career.

Penny was widely admired for her cheerful positivity and boundless energy. She enjoyed many hobbies, which she pursued with passion, including oil painting, raising plumerias, quilting, and exercising with her many friends at Zumba and Silver Sneakers. She had a special fondness for her kitties, plumeria blooms, and monarch butterflies. Her favorite vacation spot was the island of Kauai, which she visited annually for many years.

Penny left behind the following note: “My legacy is my four boys - my amazing boys, children, men. I have been blessed with such awesome children and then super blessed with such beautiful grandchildren. I also have been extremely blessed with special friends with whom I share an incredible bond and deep love.”

She added a favorite saying: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming, ‘Woohoo, what a ride!’”

Penny is survived by her four sons and their wives - Ray and Joook, Mike and Diana, Dan and Julie, Bob and Reiko; thirteen grandchildren - Samantha, Thomas, Holli, Jason, Kelli, Sarah, Leo, Justin, Max, Kailey, Nathan, Jimmy, and Alina; and her brother Buddy Preston.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for August 29, 2025 from 10:00 and to Noon. The service will be held at El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley, located at 5600 Carroll Canyon Road, San Diego, CA, 92121, United States. Penny asks attendees to “wear bright, colorful, or floral clothes!”

Penny Preston Bamford will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her.