FARMINGTON — Elvin “Al” Winter, 96, a longtime resident of Jay, passed away Tuesday morning, Aug. 1, at Sandy River Center in Farmington.

He was born Oct. 29, 1920, in East Dixfield, the son of Ralph Winter and Thera (Wright) Winter. After the passing of Thera, Ralph married Ruth Severy, who raised Elvin. Al attended school in Dixfield and Edward Little in Auburn. Elvin served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Normandy, northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and central Europe, fighting many missions, including the Battle of the Bulge, and served under Gen. Patten. He earned several medals, including the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.

In 1946, he married Doris Williamson and together they had four children, divorcing after 17 years of marriage. In October 1985, he married Barbara Purrington, who predeceased Elvin.

He loved cars and owned a garage in Livermore. He later moved to a garage in Jay, built by his dad, and proudly named it Al Winter Jay Sales. Elvin soon continued building his empire to include Big Papa’s Car Wash, Skini ~ Mini Gas Station and Mad Mama’s. He also owned dealerships in Mexico and Farmington. He was a member of Maine Auto Dealers Association for several years. He loved the coast and loved walking on the beach and would go to Boothbay and Ogunquit as often as he could. He also loved to drive and go out to eat at the Chuck Wagon in Livermore Falls.

He is survived by his children, Sherry (Winter) Chabot and her husband, Raymond, Darryl Winter and wife, Belinda (Parker) Winter, Trudy (Winter) Leen and husband, John, and Tammy (Winter) Capen, and Robert Blais; grandchildren, Kelly Faherty, Kirstie Wilkins, Katherine Chabot-Boucher, Christopher Winter, Peter Winter, Nicole Winter, Ryan McKeever, Jaime Amyott, Jeremy Abbott and Jason Abbott; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Sandy River Center and Beacon Hospice for their care and compassion shown to Elvin.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

Elvin “Al” Winter