HAMPDEN – Allan “Al” L. Benner passed away Jan. 7, 2009, at home, after a long illness. He was the only son of Ernest and Gladys (Allen) Benner of Edmunds. Al graduated from Edmunds High School and began a long, successful career in sales, including the former Banks Auto Supply and Grant Trailer Sales of Bangor, Hardy’s Trailer Sales of Brewer and for the last 31 years, as the founder of Al Benner Homes, Holden. Al had been a steadfast champion of affordable housing for the citizens of Maine, and had been instrumental in development of standards and legislation to ensure the people of Maine have safe, affordable housing through his long term leadership roles in the State of Maine Manufactured Housing Board, appointed by the governor, as well as Manufactured Housing Association of Maine, where he served as president, vice president and other supporting roles. His experience and influence also lead to the development of installation standards in Maine, a model for other states, as well as a unification of manufactured housing transportation throughout the Northeast. He was an avid fisherman and amateur photographer, capturing memories from Maine to Florida with his family and fishing buddy, Harold Holbrook of Port St. Lucie, Fla. Always a gracious host and welcomed visitor, he will be sorely missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Patricia; two sons, Stephen and his wife, Susan of Yucaipa, Calif., and Larry and his wife, Jody, of Holden; four grandchildren, Christopher, Stephanie, Tracy and Cole; three great-grandsons, Canyon, Dakota and Noah; one cousin, Robert Allen of Rochester, N.Y.; nieces, Kimberly (Cain) Ouellette, Margaret (Crichton) Mulholland and Megan Ouellette; and nephews, Mark Cain and David Crichton. He was predeceased by son, Paul Benner in September 1985. Relatives and friends are invited to call 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, where funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, with the Rev. Dr. Rex H. Garrett, director of Chaplaincy services at Eastern Maine Medical Center, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments after the service at Brookings-Smith Family Center, 163 Center St., Bangor. Interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Those wishing to remember Al in a special way may contribute in his memory to Bangor Humane Society, 693B Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
ALLAN ‘AL’ L. BENNER
