Ernest Roy Winslett Sr.

Ernest Roy Winslett, Sr., CDR, USN (Ret.)

Ernest Roy Winslett Sr. (Roy) passed away Saturday, May 14th following a brief illness. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida to parents Ora Mae and Ernest Alvin Winslett. As the surviving child of five children, he was raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he attended and graduated from the University of Alabama.

Roy's life revolved around service to his country and devotion to his family. He served in the US Navy in the Asian Theater during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. A naval aviator, he flew Corsairs and various types of helicopters from land bases and aircraft carriers including the Oriskany, Thetus Bay and Hornet. At the beginning of the Apollo space program, he trained future astronauts for vertical landings on the moon and an updated version of the Navy's first helicopter flight manual that Roy developed is still in use today. His naval career spanned 29 years and took him and his immediate family around the world until he retired in 1970 at the rank of Commander. Returning to family roots in Tallahassee, he began a new career as an antiquities dealer and later as an active Real Estate Broker and investor for over 35 years.

Roy was preceded in death by his sister-in-law Mary Warren Spencer Perkins (Everall) and is survived by his spouse of 58 years, Barbara Spencer Winslett, daughters Christine Brown Caughran (Carl) and Lori Anne Davis (Rick), sons Ernest Roy Winslett, Jr. (Paulette) and Don Edward Winslett, nieces Linda Christianson (Art), Judy Hankin and Jennifer Burkle (Harry) and four grand children and two great grandchildren. He was a loving husband and father and will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.

An 11:00am graveside service with full military honors will be held Thursday, May 19th, at the Roselawn Cemetery on Piedmont Drive, followed by a 12:30pm remembrance reception celebrating his life at Taproots (St. Peters Anglican Church NE Education Center), 4784 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee.

Flowers may be sent to Bevis Funeral Home in Tallahassee (850/385-2193) or, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fisher House Program for veterans and their families who require travel for specialized medical care (www.fisherhouse.org).