Robert K. "Pete" Winsor

EAST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Pete Winsor, 83, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday evening, Aug. 22, 2011, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.

He was an avid outdoors man and especially enjoyed the company of black Labrador retrievers.

Pete was a lifelong resident of East Bridgewater. As a boy, he enjoyed going to fires on his bicycle and became a call firefighter in Elmwood as a teenager. He remained on the call fire department in East Bridgewater for many years while employed by the Carver Cotton Gin, reaching the rank of chief in 1973. He retired in 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Bethel, Maine; his children, Jeanne Boelsma and husband Andy of Gilead, Brant Winsor and wife Vicki of Clinton, Betsey Cooper of Bethel, and Craig Winsor and wife Jennifer, and Neil Winsor, all of East Bridgewater. Pete is also survived by his sisters, Marjorie Hurd-Davidson, Meridith Swanson and Miona West; eight grandchildren; and a diverse group of close friends. He was known as Uncle Pete to several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his daughter, Eileen, in 1980; his sister, Muriel Douglas, and his parents, Merle and Amy Winsor.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his visitation on from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 26, in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel Plymouth Street (Route 58 at the rotary), Whitman. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Aug. 27, in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Carver Sportsman's Club Young Adult Hunt programs, Scholarship account, c/o Paul Johnson, 3 Laurie Lane, Carver, MA 02330; or to the Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog at www.mavestadog.org.

For online condolences and directions, visit www.blanchardfc.com.