Winfield ‘Winnie’ Lash, 97, of Friendship, passed away Nov. 9 at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.
Born in Friendship, July 5, 1918, he was one of 14 children born to Robert and Levilda Carter Lash. Winnie began school in Friendship, but went on to become a self-taught man of many talents.
On Oct. 13, 1940, he married his best friend and soul mate, Barbara Fales. Together the two recently celebrated 75 wonderful years of marriage.
Mr. Lash was owner and operator of Lash Brothers’ Boatyard, a business he started in 1946 when his uncle, Scott Carter, passed away with a partially completed passenger ferry in the works. Although the business saw many partnerships along the way, at one point or another, all eight Lash brothers, several in-laws, a special nephew, and various friends have been employed there over the years.
Under Winnie’s watchful eye and skilled hand the boatyard has seen the completion of countless ferry boats, lobster smacks, seiners, draggers, Friendship Sloops, and pleasure boats. Winnie built his last dragger in 1985, but he has continued to care for captains and working fishermen each day of his life. His sons said he put a Bible in every boat he built, and prayed unceasingly for the salvation of others, even in his last hours here on earth.
Mr. Lash will be greatly missed by his loving family, but they rest firmly in the knowledge that they will rejoice with him again one day.
He was predeceased by son, Wesley Austin Lash; brothers, Austin, John, Harold, Robert and Douglas Lash; and sisters, Eleanor Beggs, and Mary Wotton.
Mr. Lash is survived by his wife of 75 years, Barbara Lash of Friendship; children and their spouses, Neil and Bonnie Lash of Waldoboro, Irving ‘Irv’ and Willi Lash of Augusta, Paulette ‘Polly’ and Ivan Hill of Friendship, Dianne and Norman Hill of Friendship, Theresa Fullerton of Waldoboro, Suzanne and Thomas Simmons of Friendship; daughter-in-law, Cindy Lash of Friendship; special nephew whom he raised, Philip J. Lash of Friendship; siblings, Paul Lash, Howard Lash and wife Lois, Philip Lash and wife Janice, Carolyn Kaler, Myra Maxcy and Esther Lane, all of Friendship; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews, and a large extended family.
Throughout his life, Mr. Lash prayed each day and clung to the hope that his entire family would find the peace of knowing their Creator personally.
Family and friends are invited to visit from 12-1 p.m., Sat., Nov, 14 at the Advent Christian Church of Friendship, 19 Cushing Rd., Friendship, where a celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. The Rev. Alan Chamberlain will officiate. Mr. Lash will be laid to rest at the Old Village Cemetery, Friendship.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship Scholarship Fund, or the Advent Christian Church, P.O. Box 9, Friendship, ME 04547.
To share a memory or condolence with the Lash family, please visit their Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.
Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.
