Fern Welker Mervos

Fern Welker Mervos was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 4, 1910 and died on February 14, 2008 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was the daughter of Louis and Anna (Dose) Welker. She was married for 50 years to Nicholas Mervos, Jr., who preceded her in death. She is survived by their three children, Robert (Phyllis) Mervos, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Mary Jo (Dr. Edward) Gibson, Berryville, Virginia; and Joy (John) Benedek, North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania; three grandchildren, Gregory Mervos, Lindsay Gibson, and Matthew Galeza; three nieces, Dr. Nina McClelland, Janet (Dale) Hoodlebrink, and Kathy (Steve) Metcalf, and two nephews, Richard (Barbara) Collins and Robert (Linda) McNamara. A third nephew, Willard (Karen) Collins also preceded her in death. Mathematics and teaching were Fern's passions. She began tutoring others in math when she was in the eighth grade. In 1928, she enrolled at the University of Toledo and, by her junior year, she was instructing in math at UT during evening sessions. She earned degrees in 1932 and 1933 and stayed on the faculty (now as a professor) until 1947. She was a charter member of the UT chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon, the national honorary society in mathematics. Throughout her life, she believed that "her university" and its math program were national treasures, and she enjoyed every occasion that reunited her with her colleagues and friends at UT. When she left Toledo, Fern and her husband opened telecommunications businesses in the greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. They owned those businesses until 2006 but retired earlier to Deerfield Beach, Florida. Fern was always active and served in leadership roles in her churches, most recently Zion Lutheran Church in Deerfield Beach. She was President of the College Club in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and a member of numerous other civic and philanthropic organizations, and she loved to travel. Memorial services will be held in Toledo on Monday, February 18 at 12 Noon at Hope Lutheran Church, and in Florida on Saturday, March 8 at 1 pm at Zion Lutheran Church, Deerfield Beach. In Toledo, the family will receive friends at Ansberg West Funeral Chapel, 3000 Sylvania Avenue, on Sunday, February 17 from 1 pm to 3 pm. Interment will be in the Memorial Gardens at Zion Church. Several years ago, her family endowed the Fern Welker Mervos Scholarship in Mathematics at the University of Toledo. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Fern's scholarship or to the charity of the donor's choice.