Robert Preston and Eleanor George grew up about 8 miles apart. It is not known when they began dating but they surely would have had contact at community gatherings. Their parents would have had at least a casual friendship. Most all of Eleanor's schooling was in Mitchell Valley and in Mitchell, Nebraska while living on the Mitchell Valley Farm and in Mitchell with her grandparents Wilber and Frances Peters. Eleanor graduated from Mitchell High School in 1936. Robert attended grade school at the Mountain View School in Wyoming near Double Hump. He attended Scottsbluff High School graduating in 1937 staying with his grandmother Louisa Henton while living at 2116 1st Avenue in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.