Mary Morris Houbolt

SCARBOROUGH – Mary Morris Houbolt, 95, died on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 surrounded by family.

Mary was born in Winston Salem, N.C. on Feb. 25, 1926. She was the second of three daughters of Frank Brown Morris and Myrtle Ashworth Morris. Mary grew up in Winston-Salem with her sisters Lena Morris Petree and Sarah Morris Steele. Mary started college at the age of 16 at the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina and graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1946.

Upon graduation, Mary moved to Hampton, Va., where she worked at the National Advisory Council for Aeronautics (NACA, which would eventually become NASA) as a human “computer” – using a mechanical calculator to derive numerical values for the flight engineering equations. NACA was also where she met the love of her life and future husband, John Cornelius Houbolt, an engineer from Illinois (and future Chief Aeronautical Scientist at NASA).

Mary’s three daughters were born during her early married years in Hampton. The family moved to Zurich, Switzerland in 1956 while Mary’s husband earned his doctorate, and then returned to Hampton. During the course of her husband’s career, the family moved to Princeton, N.J. in 1963 and to Williamsburg, Va. in 1978. Mary and John retired to Scarborough in 2001.

Mary was a talented artist, played piano, did needlepointing, earned a pilot’s license, and was an enthusiastic water skier and snow skier. She enjoyed architectural layout and designed the Black Rock Gun Club clubhouse in New Jersey, where she and John were top skeet and trap shooters. Mary loved animals and had a goat, alligator and cat growing up. She raised Norfolk terriers and helped nurse 13 of her daughter’s bunnies, along with welcoming various “furry critters” belonging to grandchildren. Mary was an inventive, creative and down-to-earth grandmother and her grandchildren loved playing with her – learning that toys and fun could be made from whatever materials were at hand.

Mary used her mathematical skills to keep financial records for several organizations. She became interested in the stock market and was an astute investor. She loved to learn and became quite adept with a computer in her later years, spending hours researching new topics. Mary’s favorite pastime, however, was sailing. She and John spent many hours sailing the tidewater areas of Virginia and along the New England coast. She chose to retire with a view to the ocean she loved to sail on.

Although professing to lack confidence and be very shy, Mary was a great conversationalist and never at a loss for words. She was a great source of advice and always found words of wisdom to offer. A friend to all ages, she sustained many friendships across generations. Mary was liked and remembered by everyone she met. Mary could also be a force to reckon with–known for her “Dutch flexibility” she was frequently heard to say “that may be true, but I don’t believe it”. Mary suffered debilitating and painful osteoporosis for many years. Her long life is a tribute to her tenacity and inner strength.

Mary’s daughters Neil and Julie considered her the best mother ever and a role-model as they in turn became parents.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters; her husband of 65 years, John Houbolt; her long time friends, Eloise Kurbjun and Sue Johnson; and by her daughter, Joanna.

She is survived by her daughter, Neil, her husband Tucker, and their children Lia and Whitney; her daughter, Julie, her husband Carl, their children Ryan and Carla; and by her son-in-law, Matt.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to: Parkinson’s Foundation http://www.parkinson.org or Shriners Hospitals for Children lovetotherescue.org