Robert Sylvester

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Robert P. Sylvester, 71, of Walnut Street, died Monday at North Adams Regional Hospital following a long illness.

Born at home on School Street on Dec. 31, 1931, son of Theodore Roosevelt Sylvester Sr. and Etta Baker Sylvester, he was a 1950 graduate of the former Williamstown High School.

A Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, he served with the 1st Engineer Battalion and received a Purple Heart and a Presidential Citation. He also served with the Seabees in the Navy Reserve in Pittsfield, retiring in 1987.

Mr. Sylvester had been employed as a lab technician by the former Photech for 37 years.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and the Williams Masonic Lodge, of which he was past master. He also was a member of all Scottish Rite Bodies of the Masonic Order, the Melha Shrine of Springfield and the Berkshire Shrine Club. He was a past patron and member of Order of Eastern Star Mountain Chapter 137 and a life member of both American Legion Post 152 and the VFW. He also was a member of the Marine Corps League of Pittsfield.

He and his wife, the former Joanne Churchill, were married April 24, 1954, at First United Methodist Church.

Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Roberta Sweet of Williamstown; five brothers, Theodore Roosevelt Sylvester Jr. of Pittsfield, Lee H. Sylvester of Clarksburg, and John H. Sylvester, George D. Sylvester and Paul A. Sylvester, all of Williamstown; a sister, Inez L. Wise of Jackson, Miss., and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by a daughter, Deborah Jean Sylvester.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Robert P. Sylvester will be conducted Thursday, May 15, at 10 at First United Methodist Church of Williamstown by the Rev. Sandy Ray. The Williams Masonic Lodge will conduct its service during the funeral. Burial will follow in the family lot in Eastlawn Cemetery, Williamstown. If friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital or First United Methodist Church through the office of the George M. Hopkins Funeral Home, 61-67 Spring St., Williamstown MA 01267. Robert’s family and grandchildren were his main interest. He was also proud to be a left-hander. He also leaves a son-in-law, Steven B. Sweet; two grandchildren, Amanda Jean Sweet and Brian Allen Sweet, both of Williamstown; a nephew, Timothy M. Sylvester of North Adams; a grandniece, Dawn V. Stewart of North Adams; a grandnephew Brian A. Agaman of Garden City, Ga., and other nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.