PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Robert P. Winslow passed away September 10, 2017, at home.



He was a retired Postmaster and combat veteran of two wars, Korea and the Chinese Civil War. Born in Pittsfield on March 13, 1932, son of Robert E. and Katherine F. McDermott Winslow, he was educated in local schools and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1951.



He enlisted in the Navy reserve in 1949 and regular Navy in April of 1951 but was refused active duty until his graduation in June.  He was the only one of six inductees who, after boot camp, was assigned to a ship and sent off to the Korean War. He served almost four years aboard the Destroyer U.S.S. O'Brien, attaining foreign and sea service for a 42-month period, which included Korea, China, and a brief period in the territorial waters of Vietnam. His ship was involved in four wars and 19 major sea battles. During the Korean War, his ship was involved in what is believed to be the longest ship to shore sea battle in the history of the United States Navy, "The Battle of the Buzzsaw in Wonsan Harbor North Korea." He was the recipient of many medals, ribbons, bronze stars and citations.



Upon his Navy discharge, he immediately secured a position with N.A.S.A., in Lancaster, Calif., prior to returning to Pittsfield. He was employed by Hathaway Bakeries and Seyffer Ford prior to entering the U.S. Postal Service. He entered the service as a mail handler and worked his way up to Postmaster in Bennington, Vt., where he received four outstanding merit evaluations. He was the only Postmaster in the Northern New England district to receive such recognition. He attributed this success to great employees.



He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, Korean War Veterans Association, and Veterans of Foreign Wars having served as chaplain, member of the Color and Honor Guard. He was also a member of the American Legion and Tin Can Sailors of America.



He is survived by his wife, the former Beverly Senecal; daughter Wendy McCarthy and her husband Kevin of Nashua, N.H.; son Robert C. and his wife Christine; granddaughters Jessica and Danielle of Whitehouse, Tenn.; and his siblings James, William, and Mary. He is also survived by his nephew Louis Senecal and his wife Dona and their son Zachary.



Robert had many joys in his life but the most cherished were the family camping trips along the east coast, pitching horseshoes, and spending time with what he often referred to as his horses at Blythewood Stables and Equestrian Center in Naples, Fla.



Funeral notice: A Liturgy of Christian Burial to celebrate the life of Robert P. Winslow will take place Friday, September 15, 2017, at 10 a.m. at St. Mark's Church, 400 West St., Pittsfield, Mass., with the Rev. David Aufiero, Pastor officiating. Full military honors will immediately follow outside the church.



Burial will be at a later date. At his request, there will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his name may be made to the Tin Can Sailors Association of America in care of the Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Funeral Home, 5 Elm St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.