Carol Ann Libby Benson

GORHAM – Carol Ann Libby Benson died July 26, 2025 at Maine Medical Center hospice care. Carol was born on Oct. 16, 1938, in Portland, Maine. She was the first child of Eleanor Sanford Libby and Norman Libby of Scarborough.

She grew up in Scarborough and graduated from Scarborough High School in 1956 where she was valedictorian of her class. She graduated from Gorham State Teachers College in 1960 with a B.S. in Education. She was a member of the college chorus at Gorham State Teachers college. Carol taught at Hodgkins School in Augusta, where she was a team leader for five years. She retired in 1997 after 31 years in the Augusta school system.

Carol belonged to the ATA and AEA as well as other professional organizations. She was a teacher and superintendent of the East Winthrop Church Sunday school as well as a member of the church choir. She was a member of the CODA Chorus in Winthrop. She also was a member and past president of the Loyal Daughters of the Church, as well as a church member. She was a Boy scout den mother and a Girl scout leader. She was a member and treasurer of the Winthrop Music Boosters and a member of the Principal’s Advisory Council at Winthrop High School. She was a member of the Female Good Samaritans at Stevens Avenue Congregational Church, Portland. She is the author of several magazine articles and a children’s novel, REACHING UP, a children’s story about growing up in WWII on the coast of Maine.

She married Frank Elbridge Benson, Jr. on August 24, 1960 after dating for four years in college and they lived in Winthrop from 1964 – 2014. They moved to Gorham, in 2014. Frank and Carol enjoyed traveling and camping in the Eastern US and Canada with their children and later traveled throughout the US from California to Texas to Florida and many places in between.

One of her favorite pastimes has always been knitting and over the past few years knitted throws for all her grandchildren and nieces, and presented them to all while she was here.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years and their four children, Wendy Benson Sargent of Gorham, Randall and wife Tammy of Sturbridge Mass., Robert of Jamaica Plain, Mass. and Christopher of Madison, Ala. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Justin Benson and husband Charles Berds of Dorchester, Mass., Alexandria Gonzales and husband Joe of Swarthmore, Pa., Michael, Natalia and Kenny Benson of Martinsville, NJ, Bryce and Susan Benson of Madison, Ala.., and most recently her very first great grandson Asher Cole Gonazales; niece Melissa Libby Fisher and husband Mike of Zellienople, Pa., as well as several other nieces, nephews and cousins. Also surviving is her brother Clinton Libby of St. Johnsbury, Vt. She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Judith Libby Gray.

Visiting hours will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday August 2, 2025 at A.T. Hutchins, 660 Brighton Ave, Portland, with a celebration of Carol’s life to follow at 1 p.m. After the service all are invited to stay for food and a time of fellowship. Burial will be at a later date in Black Point Cemetery in Scarborough

To share memories of Carol or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com.