Robert E. Minte, a retired painting contractor who lived in the Annapolis area for many years, died Wednesday after a heart attack at his winter home at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Fla. He was 78 and also had a home in Annapolis.

He retired in 1965 as chairman of the board of the Edward W. Minte Painting Co., selling it to his employees. The firm had been started by his father and became one of the largest privately owned painting contractors in the Washington area.

Mr. Minte was a native of Washington.

For many years, he owned cabin cruisers, all named Dutchess, his mother's nickname. His former home on the South River was named Dutchess Landing.

His wife, the former Theresa Weber, died in 1989.

Services were set for 10 a.m. today at John M. Taylor Funeral Home in Annapolis.

He is survived by a sister, Ethel M. Marshall of Rockville; a stepson, J. Fred Chaimson of Bend, Ore.; a nephew, Robert M. Marshall of Vienna, Va.; a niece, Barbara M. Ford of Wilmington, Del.; and his companion, Linda Harrison of Annapolis.