Lt. Gen. Robert “Bob” Joseph Winglass, 87

Lt. Gen. Robert “Bob” Joseph Winglass, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), passed away on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023, in Melbourne, Fla., at the age of 87.

Bob was born Oct. 22, 1935, in Cambridge, Mass., to Joseph and Catherine (Turowsky) Winglass. He completed grades 1-12 in the public school system in Franklin, Mass. He attended Franklin High School, where he played four years of high school football, made many lifelong friends, and graduated in June of 1953. Bob then furthered his education at Springfield College in Springfield, Mass. While in college, he played four years of college football, joined the Army Reserves, then transferred into the Marine Corps Reserves and graduated in June of 1957, with a Bachelor of Science in Education (BS).

On June 22, 1957, he married the love of his life, Norma-Jean (Weaver) Winglass. Bob was a loving husband who cherished his wife and family. He loved to play his ukulele for friends or call up a family member to sing Happy Birthday. Bob truly loved spending time with his children and grandchildren whether out at the lake, celebrating holidays and birthdays together, or taking them on a cruise. He loved cheering at their swim meets, horse shows, hockey, football, lacrosse, basketball and soccer games. He was also sure to attend their church contadas, musical theater and marching band performances. Even the smallest of tasks, like walking them to the bus stop or writing them a postcard, put a smile on his face.

While residing in Maine, one of his favorite pastimes was to take his family to see the Portland Pirates play. Bob was a member of the Freemasons and Anah Shrine. He was also a member of the Eastern Star, Irene Chapter. Bob and Norma-Jean moved from Maine and settled in Melbourne, Fla., where he continued to serve in his community. He truly was an amazingly humble, genuine and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In addition, Bob loved his Marine Corps family and the United States of America, and he dedicated his life to public service. He served our nation in wartime and some of the most difficult conflicts of our age and commanded at all levels.

In 1957, Lt. Gen. Robert Winglass was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He began his over 35-year career of active-duty service as an infantry officer, but was soon shifted to logistics, finance and material management. As a commander he led as few as 17 and as many as 10,000 Marines and sailors at one time. Lt. Gen. Winglass completed his service after serving over nine years as a general flag officer on July 31, 1992, and honorably retired as a lieutenant general USMC-retired. Lt. Gen. Winglass’s assignments included special assistant to the assistant secretary of the Navy, stock level determination and distribution manager of materials in support of all USMC forces, financial assessment manager for Marine Corps consumable supplies worldwide, commanding officer of a Marine battalion and commanding general of Force Service Support Group, consisting of 10 battalions.

In addition to his Bachelor of Science in Education, he earned a Master of Science (MS) in International Affairs from George Washington University. He also attended the Naval War College, National Defense University, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and Defense Systems Management College. Lt. Gen. Winglass earned many decorations during his service, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat “V” and two Gold Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation with one star, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal with one star, Vietnam Service Medal with three stars, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one star, RVN Cross of Gallantry with Palm & Frame, RVN Campaign Medal with Device, Expert Pistol Qualification Badge (2) and Expert Rifle Qualification Badge.

Bob’s service wasn’t over when he took his uniform off and after retiring from the Marines, he embarked on his civil service career and was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, where he served four years as a member of the Transportation Committee and Health and Human Services Committee. He was later employed by the IBM Corp. as the director of the Strategic Business Relationships Team in the Software Division. In June 2011, he was nominated by the state of Maine’s governor and appointed as the state commissioner of labor in Maine, where he served until August 2012.

Lt. Gen. Winglass, USMC, will receive military honors and be laid to rest in Quantico National Cemetery, Quantico, Va., on Aug. 4, 2023, at 10:30 EST. May he rest in peace. Semper Fidelis.

Bob is survived by his wife, Norma J. (Weaver) Winglass; his three sons, Robert Joseph Jr. and Julie (Goodwin) Winglass, D. Andrew Winglass and Theodore J. Winglass; his daughter, Laura Jean Winglass; his grandchildren Benjamin Milner and Sarah “Liz” Lee Winglass, Stephen James Winglass, Katelyn Ann Winglass, Jonathan Robert and Bridget (Evangelista) Winglass, Ryan and Sarah Lindsay (Winglass) Madrid, Ethan Winglass, Mae Winglass, Joseph Cross and Samantha Riley (Winglass) Quesenberry, Maya Nicole Recupero; his great-grandchildren Julian Winglass, Maeve Winglass, Jaxon Robert Winglass and Henry Quesenberry; and his cousins and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Catherine (Turowsky) Winglass; his sister Prudence Eleanor Winglass; his grandparents Joseph and Prudence W. Žvingilas (Micewich) and Joseph and Petronella (Dirgintas) Turowsky; and his aunts and uncles: Prudence A. (Zwinglas) Upton, Ona (Zwinglas) Kapochy, Alphonse and Antoinette (Karaitis) Zwinglas, Anthony and Euphemia (Grigalunas) Zwinglas, Andy and Anne Veronica (Turowsky) Lakus, William and Alda (Turowsky) Slavinsky, Albin and Helen (Lapinsky) Turowsky, Eddie Turowsky, Vito Turowsky, Franklin Joseph and June Turowsky