Robert Eli Winfield Sr., retired U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, passed away in Lindon, Utah, on Sept. 12, 2004, after a stroke.

Robert 'Bob' Winfield was born June 26, 1911, in Binghampton, N.Y., to Joseph Henry Winfield and Elizabeth Kircher Winfield. The oldest of 11 children, Bob dropped out of school on the eighth grade to work in the Endicott-Johnson shoe factory to help put food on the table. He later enlisted in the National Guard, beginning a 30-year military career. He continued sending money home to help support his family through the Depression. After changing to the Navy, Bob finished his high school education in the Navy and attended several vocational schools, training as an optical and steam engineer. He moved up through the enlisted ranks to eventually become a lieutenant commander.

Bob was serving on the USS Medusa in December of 1941 during the attack on Pearl Harbor and served the remainder of World War II in the Pacific Theater on the USS Medusa and the USS Renville. During the Korean conflict, Bob served aboard the USS Rochester and participated in the Battle of Wonson Harbor. He was a recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation for his service in Korea and received good conduct awards (one star) for his military service. He served as part of a United Nations peacekeeping force in Indonesia, overseeing the turnover of that country from the Netherlands to independent rule. For his services on that mission, he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmena of the Netherlands and awarded the Royal Order of the Orange Nassau, with Swords. Bob retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander in June 1958 after serving as the security officer at the Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center.

After retiring from the military, he pursued a lifetime dream of a college education, obtaining an associate degree at Ventura College, and a bachelor of arts and a master's in educational administration from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. From 1965 until 1980, Bob taught elementary school at Westmore School in Orem, Utah, and at Brittell, Marina West and Rose Avenue schools in the Oxnard area. After retiring from his second career, he moved to Lindon, Utah. During retirement, he served as a justice of the peace in Lindon, Utah. Still in vigorous health at age 75, he served as a Boy Scout master in Lindon, Utah. Bob was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in numerous leadership capacities, including as bishop of the Oxnard First Ward between 1970 and 1980. He and his wife, Vera, worked in the Provo Latter-day Saints Temple.

Bob is survived by his wife of 56 years, Vera; children, Rita Miller of San Pedro, Calif., Robbi Boyer of Springville, Utah, Robert E. Winfield Jr., of Springville, Utah, William E. Winfield of Ventura and Ronald Glen Winfield of Lindon, Utah; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, at the Latter-day Saints Meetinghouse at 25 N. Main St., Lindon, Utah.