Robert L. Preston Sr., 77, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, at Baystate Medical Center. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 27 years, Cathy Preston, and later by his beloved wife of 12 years, Carol Preston.

Born in Springfield, he was the son of the late Leonard and Allison Preston. He was a proud graduate of Commerce High School. Robert retired from the United States Postal Service after 40 dedicated years as a mail handler, a role he carried out with hard work and pride. Robert enjoyed camping, reading, and most of all, spending time with his family. He rarely missed a grandchild's sporting event and could always be found cheering from the sidelines. He will be remembered for his classic dad jokes, his whacky T-shirts, his quick wit and sarcasm, and his unmistakable stubborn streak. A man who never met a stranger, Robert treated everyone like family. He was a devoted and hardworking family man who could fix just about anything and was a die-hard New York Giants fan.

Robert leaves behind his seven children: Lisa Preston; Linda (Michael) Scott; Sarah (Bryan) McLean; Robert Preston Jr.; Matthew Preston; Laurie Preston; and Ashley (Michael) Preston-O'Connor. He also leaves behind 12 cherished grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, his sister Janet (David) Loftus, and his loyal dog, Paws. In addition to his wives, he was predeceased by his brother, William Preston.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, March 8, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Both services will take place at Ratell Funeral Home, 200 Main Street, Indian Orchard, MA. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Park Cemetery, 895 Parker Street, Springfield. Please visit ratellfuneralhome.com to leave remembrances and words of sympathy for the family.