PRESTON TAYLOR MAXWELL, age 89 years of Beltsville, MD died at 6:10 p.m on Monday, September 9, 2013 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, MD. He was the husband of Edith Viola (Krick) Maxwell. They were married in Boston, MA on October 18, 1951.

He was born in Sparta, NC on September 19, 1923 a son of the late Eli Glenn and Ruth Catherine (Taylor) Maxwell. Mr. Maxwell graduated from Slate Ridge High School then served in the U.S. Army for over three years during World War II. Following his discharge from the military, he attended the University of Maryland from which he received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1951. He was employed at the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency in 1958 when that group, under Wernher von Braun, was incorporated into NASA as the Marshall Space Flight Center. During that time, the von Braun group orbited the first U.S. Satellite, sent the first man, Alan Shepard, into space (as well as Abel and Baker, the first monkeys) and developed the launch vehicle used to send the Apollo spacecraft to the moon in 1969.

Mr. Maxwell transferred to the NASA Space Task Group, Langley Field, Virginia, and helped engineer the electrical power system for the Apollo lunar module, before moving to NASA HQ in 1961. He continued development of electrical power systems for space until retiring from NASA in 1973.

He held several varied jobs following his retirement including working as the business manager for the Rock Creek Park Horse Centre in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Maxwell served as a deacon at his church, the Columbia Primitive Baptist Church in Burtonsville, MD.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by:

One son: David Glenn Maxwell of Laurel, MD

He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Maxwell was preceded in death by his granddaugher, Dodie Marie Maxwell; his sister, Amy Ruth Maxwell Pennington and his brother, William Ralph Maxwell.

Graveside funeral services and interment will be held on Friday, September 13 at 1:00 p.m at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, adjacent to the Mt. Nebo United Methodist Church, 962 Flintville Road, Delta, PA.

Officiating will be Elder Stephen Bloyd, Elder Stephen Aquino and Pastor John Harris.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the Columbia Primitive Baptist Church,

15900 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866