Preston L. Fitzberger, 94, of Buena Vista, died on February 21, 2007.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 19, 193, he was the 4th child of John Henry and Edna Mills Fitzberger.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Ida Wood.

Lieutenant Colonel Fitzberger enlisted in the Maryland National Guard, 29th Division, in 1934. Commissioned in 1942, he commanded the 4092nd QM Company, 1st Engineer Special Brigade and led his company ashore at Normandy on the morning of June 6, 1944. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 and the liberation of several concentration camps. In 1946 Captain Fitzberger returned to Germany in the Army of Occupation, commanding the 279th QM company, Giessen. Returning to Maryland in 1948, he joined the Maryland Department of Corrections. From 1961 to 1968 Fitzberger served as Warden of the Maryland Correctional Institution (now Maryland Correctional Training Center), Hagerstown. In 1968 he was appointed Warden of the Maryland State Penitentiary, Baltimore. He served in this capacity until 1973 during a period of corrections reform and challenging social unrest. Fitzberger was Assistant Director of the Maryland Vocational Rehabilitation Center, Baltimore, from 1973 to 1975, when he retired from state service. He retired from the Army Reserves in 1973 after 38 years of service.

Preston Fitzberger is survived by his daughter, Patricia and son-in-law Keith Gibson; his nephew, Donald Vess, whom he regarded as his son; two sisters: Irma Gibson of Baltimore, Maryland and Dorothy Jackson of Lebanan, PA; and three grandchildren: Army Specialist Philip Wohlrab, Kirkland Wohlrab and Eric Gibson.

LTC Fitzberger was a long time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the 29th Division Association and the Rockbridge Amateur Radio Club (N3GEI).

Visitation will be held at Harrison's Funeral Home, Lexington, Va, 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2007 with a memorial services at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2007 at Christ Episcopal Church, Buena Vista, VA. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at 1 p.m. on March 28, 2007. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial gifts to the D-Day Memorial, Bedford, Va, the VMI Museum, Lexington or the Christ Episcopal Church, Buena Vista.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Va.