FRIENDSHIP — Winfield 'Winnie' Lash, 97, has fallen asleep in the blessed hope of the resurrection of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Nov. 9, 2015, at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport.

Born in Friendship on 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. The couple said, “There were lean times and times of plenty,” and it was only with “God's grace and blessing” and a lot of “patience, forgiveness, longevity” they were able to attain this rare diamond anniversary.

Winnie was owner and operator of Lash Brother's 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 hands, 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.

Winnie will be greatly missed by his loving family, but they rest firmly in the knowledge that they will rejoice with him again one day.

Predeceased by his son, Wesley Austin Lash; his brothers, Austin, John, Harold, Robert and Douglas Lash; and his sisters, Eleanor Beggs and Mary Wotton; Winnie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Barbara Lash of Friendship; his 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, and Suzanne and Thomas Simmons of Friendship; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Lash of Friendship; a special nephew whom he raised, Philip J. Lash of Friendship; his siblings, Paul Lash, Howard Lash and his wife, Lois, Philip Lash and his wife, Janice, and Carolyn Kaler, Myra Maxcy and Esther Lane, all of Friendship; 17 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, and a large extended family.

Throughout his life, Winnie prayed each day and clung to the hope that his entire family would find the peace of knowing their Creator personally. He leaves the scripture verse John 3:4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

Family and friends are invited to visit Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Advent Christian Church of Friendship, 19 Cushing Road in Friendship, where a celebration of his life will be held at 1 p.m. The Rev. Alan Chamberlain will officiate. Winnie will be laid to rest at the Old Village Cemetery in Friendship.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friendship Scholarship Fund or to the Advent Christian Church, P.O. Box 9, Friendship, ME 04547.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.