Elva Lee Benner, 101, passed away Sun., Dec. 17, at Field Crest Manor in Waldoboro. Elva was born Sept. 10, 1899 in Friendship, the daughter of James Franklin and Julia Ann Carter Winchenbach. She was the oldest of four girls. She was a native of Friendship attending school in a one-room schoolhouse in Lawry for a little over eight years. At that time, it was a very rare for anyone to go beyond the 8 grade. At 14, Elva got a work permit and went to work at Ellis Lawry Clam Factory at Forest Lake and later at Brunham & Morrill in Friendship Harbor, taking time off to raise her children. During the Great Depression, she, her mother and three sisters picked crabmeat for her father who sold both clams and crabmeat. She married Perley E. Benner on July 12, 1920 at the age of 21. She lived most of her life in Friendship excluding three years when she lived in Damariscotta and in south Waldoboro. For a few years she drove a car, but when her husband passed away in 1960, she had to sell the car because of hard times. After Perley’s death, she supported herself by selling Avon Products walking door to door for 15 to 20 years. She was one of their top salespeople, earning many awards. She also helped support herself by housekeeping for a very dear friend until she reached the age of 62 and became eligible for Social Security. At that time, she gave up selling Avon but continued housekeeping. She was a member of the Acorn Grange for more than 50 years, the Friendship United Methodist Church for more than 65 years and attended almost every Sunday until she was no longer able to climb the stairs, she was a veteran member of the Friendship Ambulance Fire Auxiliary Department; contributing many hours working on the Annual Rummage sale so they could purchase another ambulance and for it’s upkeep. She belonged to the Pythian Sisters Order in Friendship for many years until they folded, and she was a grange correspondent for the Courier Gazette. In March 1995, she was awarded the Boston Post Gold Cane from the Town of Friendship, as she was their oldest resident. Her hobbies included stamp collecting and braiding rugs for a firm in Portland, as well as braiding rugs to sell from her home and braiding them for each of her ten grandchildren. She loved to crochet and crocheted numerous things over the years. She is predeceased by her husband, Perley (1960) Son, Norman Benner (1995), Sisters, Edith Havener, Leola Benner and Irma Benner, great grandson, Richard Chapman (1992). She is survived by her daughter, Grace Delano of Friendship, 10 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, 50 great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great granddaughter and 3 step grandchildren. Visiting hours 608 p.m., Dec. 21, at the Friendship United Methodist Church in Friendship. The Rev. Daniel Ames will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations in Elva’s memory may be made to the Friendship United Methodist Church, Friendship, 04547 or to the Women’s Auxiliary Fire Dept., Friendship, 04547. Burial will follow in the Sweetland cemetery in Waldoboro. Arrangements are by Hall Funeral Home, Waldoboro.