Robert C. Winchenbach

WALDOBORO -- Robert C. Winchenbach, 91, of Waldoboro passed away Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center in Rockport, surrounded by his loving family.

Robert was born April 12, 1919, in West Waldoboro, the son of Chester A. and Carrie E. Cushman Winchenbach. He attended West Waldoboro School. He was a veteran of World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds received in the Battle of the Bulge.

After returning from the war, he worked in the Waldoboro Shipyard and at Hyde Windless in Bath and, for many years, at the Waldoboro Post Office, retiring in 1978.

He married A. Miriam Syrjala on July 28, 1940. Together, they operated Wink's Bottle Shop and Wink's Christmas Trees, meeting many people who became longtime friends.

Robert was a charter member of the Maine Christmas Tree Association and also of the Dirigo Bottle Club. He was a member of the American Legion.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years; brothers Warren, Millard, Harold and Gideon Winchenbach; and sisters Grace Simmons, Frances Simmons and Priscilla Poland.

Survivors include his sons, Kenneth E. Winchenbach and his wife, Sally, of Sedgwick, and Ronald E. Winchenbach and his wife, Deborah, of Upper Enchanted Township; daughters Barbara A. Linscott and her husband, Mahlon, of Washington, and Dale E. Tolman, of Waldoboro; brothers Addison Winchenbach and his wife, Geraldine, of Waldoboro, Russell Winchenbach, of Vassalboro, and Carlton Winchenbach, of Chula Vista, Calif.; sister Christine Clifford, of Waldoboro and Florida; sister-in-law Sara Clough, of Rockland; seven grandchildren, Sara Winchenbach and her husband, Ed Hamlin, of Bar Harbor, David Linscott and his wife, Christina, of Topsham, Shari Whelan and her husband, Devlin, of Sedgwick, Karl Winchenbach and his wife, Sherrie, of Epping, N.H., Kenneth Walden and his wife, Amanda, of Bath, Greg Tolman, of Washington, and Rebecca Stenger and her husband, Jason, of Augusta; eight great-grandchildren, Kaylee and Michael Hamlin, of Seal Cove, April Winchenbach, of Blue Hill, Kendra Winchenbach, of Epping, N.H., Philip Hamlin, of Bar Harbor, Seska Whelan, of Sedgwick, and Drew and Gideon Walden, of Bath; and many nieces and nephews.

The family is forever grateful to his care givers, Debi Walker, Debbie Winchenbach, Gale Anderson, Linda Richardson and Margaret Brown, and the staff in the special care unit at Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

Visiting hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. May 1 at Hall Funeral Home. Interment will follow, with military honors, at Shuman Cemetery, Route 220N, Waldoboro.

Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made in Robert's memory to the Waldoboro Historical Society, P.O. Box J. Waldoboro, ME 04572; or the Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841.

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.