Doris Ann Chance Merwarth

A Celebration of Life service for Ann Chance Merwarth, 82, will be held at 108 Laurel Lane, in Townville, SC on June 8, 2024, at 2 pm ET.  Ann passed away from Alzheimer’s disease on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Ann was the daughter of Frederick Carlton Chance and Elma Ruth Bussey Chance. Ann attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, studying math and physics, and earned a BS in mathematics. Ann married Phillip Douglas Merwarth in 1965 and raised two children, Stephen Douglas Merwarth and Jennifer Ann Merwarth in Gambrills, Maryland. Ann spent her later years with her partner, Frank Allen Carr in Fort Myers, Florida and at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina to be closer to her grandchildren, Owen Douglas Merwarth, Russell Brandon Scott, and Taylor Ann Scott.

Ann began her career at NASA, where she worked for 35 storied years. Ann helped program the operating system for the first NASA computer in space. In addition to technical skills, Ann had excellent project management skills, which she used to lead successful teams at NASA, like those handling the servicing missions for the Hubble Space Telescope. Ann received many career awards, including a presidential award for management of space programs. 

Ann was a pioneer for the advancement of women in technology, despite living during a time of great inequity. Ann mentored women engineers and fought for equal pay. To help herself and other women who wanted careers but also wanted to be close to their children, Ann found a building, hired teachers, and opened a daycare center at NASA in Greenbelt Maryland, the first of its kind at a federal agency. This child development center has empowered family-oriented, working women for 50 years. Ann later mentioned that founding the center was her most important career achievement.

Ann was a wonderful cook and entertainer. She could quickly create meals for gatherings without preplanning. Ann loved to steam crabs and make cinnamon rolls for special occasions. Ann brought family, friends, and her communities closer together by leading events with her thoughtful and charismatic demeanor. 

Ann was a dedicated mother, who spent quality time with her kids and grandchildren, attended their many activities and spent summer weeks with them at Lake Hartwell. Ann believed she could do anything and she gifted that ‘can-do’ determination to her children and grandchildren.   

Survivors include Ann’s brother, Frederick Chance, her son Stephen (Kelly) Merwarth and daughter Jennifer (Todd) Scott, her three grandchildren, Taylor, Russell, and Owen, her partner Frank and his children Cindy Young, Debbie Carr, Hazel Liptak and Frank Carr, Jr. along with their families.

 Memorial contributions may be given in Ann’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3223 Sunset Blvd., Suite 100, West Columbia, SC 29169.  Donate to Alzheimer's Disease Research (brightfocus.org)