The death of a cornerstone of town life has left a gap in Newent, Gloucestershire, which will be hard to fill.
Postmaster Bob Bisco "was like a stick of rock with Newent written through and through it", mourners at his funeral heard.
Born in Newent Post Office, where at least two generations of his family had served before, he died on March 24. He was 89.
"He was a figurehead of Newent," said his son, Ian, who lives in California. "He overcame a lot of health problems when he was younger, and even though I live far away, I shall miss being able to ask him questions about local history, because he had such a great knowledge."
One of four children, he was educated at Newent, then Worcester, before leaving school to work for Lloyds Bank in Ledbury, then in the Gloster Aircraft Company drawing office.
He joined the Home Guard and wanted to become an RAF pilot but was frustrated at being rejected due to colour blindness.
He was attached to the RAF post office in Malvern and after suffering TB and spinal meningitis, was sent to an open-air hospital at Cranham.
Mr Bisco married Bertha in 1946 and lived in the flat at the post office. Ian was born in 1948 followed by Neil in 1951. After Mr Bisco left Cranham they moved into a house in Vauxhall, and Mr Bisco was demobbed after spending six years in the RAF. He joined his father, Robert, in the post office and became sub postmaster in 1955.
A year later, he had five ribs removed during a 13-month stay in Standish Hospital when he was struck by TB again. He recovered and their daughter Carolyn was born in 1961. He retired at 60, and served on Newent Town Council.
At his funeral on Thursday, his son-in-law Steve Allen said: "He was like a stick of rock with Newent written through and through it. He was a true gentleman with a saucy sense of humour."