Patricia "Pat" D. Prestin, 93, of Ocoee, formerly of Orlando, Florida passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at Madison Assisted Living Community in Ocoee, Florida.

She retired after 35 years as an elementary school teacher from Orange County Public Schools. Pat was born December 15, 1927, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the only child of Harry A. and Gladys V. (Youngerman) Dunham. She married Eugene (Gene) Prestin on September 10, 1949, in Waukegan, Illinois. He preceded her in death on September 11, 1998.

Pat lived in Milwaukee until just after her freshman year when her family was transferred to Ilion, New York once there she graduated from Ilion High School in June of 1945. After the war her family returned to Milwaukee where she attended Milwaukee-Downer College and graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Art.

In 1949 after marring Eugene they bought a house in Shorewood, WI. And in 1955 she had her first son Jay. In the first several years of the 50s during the cold month of February Pat and Gene would vacation in Florida with Gene's brother Fred in Orlando. Liking the climate, in 1958 the family moved to Orlando where Gene secured and Engineering position at Martin Marietta. In early 1959 Pat gave birth to her second son John. Later in that year she sought employment as a substitute teacher but was quickly given a full time position teaching 6th grade at Pineloch Elementary and continued for 35 years in the classroom until retiring in 1994.

Following the beginning of her employment she returned to school attending Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida where she achieved obtaining her Masters Degree in Art.
In 1983 she started volunteering at Leu Gardens, a botanical garden in Orlando as a tour guide of the original homestead located on the property. She continued this for approximately 30 years as well as becoming very active in her church as one of the elders. Her hobbies included painting, Cross stitch, Needle point, creating goods for the church bazaar, just about anything that involved art.

Following her husband's death in 1998 she started to do some traveling taking a trip to England with her son Jay in 2000 as well as visiting many cities around the United States with her son who worked for the Professional Bull Riders.

She is survived by her son Jay, Daughter-in-law Martha, and Grand Daughter Jennifer.
Pat is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eugene, and son John.


The family of Patricia Dunham Prestin invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in her loving memory.

Services are pending at this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to:
The Russell Home for Atypical Children https://russellhome.org