Preston Ayars, Jr.

Preston Ayars, Jr., age 92, of Elkton, MD passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.

Pres was born in Elkton, MD to the late Preston Ayars and Elizabeth (Ransom) Ayars, on January 8, 1931. He spent 70 of his 92 years at his beloved family farm, Belle Hill Farm, which has been in the family for over 100 years. His stories of growing up on the farm were legendary, from the 1000’s of chickens he fed before school, to the hams that were hung to cure in the brick smoke house. He attended Elkton High School and Augusta Military Academy, in Fort Defiance, VA, along with attending both Cornell University and University of Virginia. Pres also served his country in Wiesbaden, Germany, with the US Army. He started his career in sales with the DuPont company, and then moved on to Middlesex Stainless Steel and Harvey & Harvey, before retiring in 1990.

Pres was a charmer, and there were few who weren’t bewitched by his smile, his ability to listen, and his obvious love of people. He had a strong sense of family and heritage, motivating him to move back to the family homestead in 1969, where he stayed for the rest of his life. Many friends, family, and especially cousins visited over the years. Pres’s favorite season was Spring, when the daffodils (many different varieties, including some from his mother’s family home in Orange, Virginia), would all bloom. This meant Easter was close, when all of the family and close friends would gather for a big easter egg hunt, which he dyed real eggs for and hid them himself.

Pres was predeceased by his sister, Evelyn Byrd Ayars, who also grew up and stayed at the farm. Pres is survived by his devoted wife and son, Laetitia Coolidge Ayars and Preston Ayars, III (Kirk) of Wilmington, DE, and his grandchildren Morgan and Carter Ayars of Wilmington, DE. He is also survived by his step-children Laetitia Allen Rodde of Boston, MA; Robert Allen III (Naoko) of Sapporo, Japan; Deborah Walsh (David) of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada; Winthrop Allen (Elizabeth) of Santa Fe, NM; and his step-grandchildren Thomas Rodde (Leah), Alex Rodde, Katharine Rodde, Kento Allen, Yuto Allen, Laetitia Walsh, Jack Walsh, and Camille Allen. Pres also leaves behind many cousins, with whom he has shared countless memories.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial Contributions be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church, Elkton, MD or Tunnel To Towers Foundation, www.t2t.org. Online condolences may be made at www.chandlerfuneralhome.com