FRIENDSHIP — Wesley Austin Lash Sr. died unexpectedly at his home in Friendship March 25, 2013.

He was born in Rockland Aug. 4, 1945, to Winfield and Barbara Fales Lash. A graduate of Waldoboro High School, he attended Southern Maine Vocational Technical Insitute, where he studied machining.

In 1969 he married Cynthia Richards and raised his family in Friendship.

After college, he started working for his father at Lash Brothers Boatyard, finishing more than 200 boats. He took over the boatyard in 1985.

Wesley was very much involved with the town of Friendship. He started with the Friendship Fire Department at age 19 and was fire chief for 10 years. He also served as a town selectman for many years.

His great love was boat racing. He was involved with the Friendship Boat Races and with his sons, raced his boat Sea Flea. Wesley's greatest joy was spending every July 4th on Friendship Long Island with his family. There, "Pup" enjoyed showing his grandchildren how to do things the 'old fashioned way'.

Loved by all who knew him, Wesley took great pleasure in offering advice about anything at coffee time at the boat shop.

Wesley is survived by his wife of 44 years, Cynthia; sons, Wesley and his wife, Taryn, and Sean Lash and his wife, Angie, all of Friendship, and David Lash and his companion, Deborah Vannah, of Warren; five grandchildren, Elizabeth, Brendan, Wyatt, Brooke and Bailey Lash; his parents, Winfield and Barbara Lash of Friendship; his mother-in-law, Lorraine Duda of Friendship; his brothers, Neil Lash and his wife, Bonnie, of Waldoboro, and Irving Lash and his wife, Willi, of Augusta; four sisters, Diane Hill and her husband, Norman, Paulette Hill and her husband, Ivan, and Suzanne Simmons and her husband, Tom, all of Friendship, and Theresa Fullerton of Waldoboro; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held Monday, April 1, at 1 p.m. at the Advent Christian Church on Route 97 in Friendship. The Rev. Alan Chamberlin will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friendship Fire Department, P. O. Box 207, Friendship, ME 04547.

To share a memory or condolence with Wesley's family, visit his Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.

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