Obituary of Paul H. Winslow Jr.

Paul H. Winslow Jr, “Skip”, was born in Millinocket, ME on September 24, 1940, and he left this world surrounded by his loved ones and the tremendous staff at Togus Springs VA Center on January 1, 2024. His 83 years were full of adventure, as his childlike heart embraced fun and learning at every opportunity.

Skip served in the US Air Force from 1958 to 1962, then attended Yankton College in South Dakota, where he met and married his devoted wife, Barbara Tallmadge. Together they taught school in SD, then became educators for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in rural villages along the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta in Alaska. Skip hunted and trapped his way into everyone’s hearts and the friendships they forged there have been life-long and soul-deep.

In 1980 they moved with their young family to a small farm in Norridgewock, ME. Skip was the childcare coordinator at Good Will-Hinckley in Fairfield, ME before moving on to Nokomis High School where he was the assistant principal until his retirement.

As a lifelong hunter and outdoorsman, Skip was sure to always instruct safety, efficiency, and respect, while honesty and generosity were at the core of his spirit. Skip taught many people how to play dominoes & cribbage, and spent $2 bills just to see people’s reactions and make them smile. He was a lifelong member of the Masonic Brotherhood and a member of the Carrabassett Trappers Association. At the close of his life, he enjoyed games and tiny cups of coffee with the Smithfield Social Citizens, where he was “the only rooster in the hen house”. Relationships were the most important things in the world to Skip, and the communities he built wherever he went remain strong to this day.

Besides a legion of friends, Skip leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Barbara, and their three children, Hope Mukai (and husband Seth of Golden, CO), son Sam (and wife Cristin of Colorado Springs, CO), and son Stephen (of Mt. Morris, NY), his 6 grandchildren, Aurora, Acadia & Colt Winslow, Emiko & Winslow Mukai, and Val Beggs. He is also survived by his brother, Dean Winslow, and his sister, Debora Brown (and husband Jim). Skip loved his nieces and nephews like they were his own children; Dean Winslow, Abby & Chris Brown,Tom Jr, Ash & Ben Tallmadge, and his great nieces and nephews all had a piece of his huge heart as well. Skip is preceded in death by his parents, Paul H. Winslow Sr & Hope Chase, and his brother, Charles Winslow. 

All are welcome and invited to share their “Skip” Stories (because if you knew him, you’ve got one) at a celebration of his well-lived life on Saturday July 6th, at 10:00 am at the Mercer Community Center at 1015 Beech Hill Road, Mercer, Maine 04957. Skip will rest eternally in the shadow of their farm’s cliff (Dodlin Hill) in Gould Cemetery in Smithfield, ME.