By Staff
WINSTON-SALEM – Ann Swain Erdenberger, 64, of Winston-Salem passed away peacefully on Monday, October 20, 2008 following a courageous two-year battle with cancer.
Born Ann Wells Swain in Durham, NC, on August 6, 1944 to Florence Stowe Swain and Dr. Wingate Elwood Swain, Ann spent her childhood years in Shallotte (NC), Churchland (VA), and Orlando (FL), before the family settled in her mother’s hometown of Washington, NC in 1958. Wherever she lived, Ann attracted and cultivated enduring life-long friendships which she nurtured and cherished even into her final days.
A graduate of Washington High School, Ann attended Meredith College in Raleigh for two years before transferring to Woman’s College (now UNC-G), where she graduated in 1967. Shortly thereafter, she began what would become a distinguished 25-year career with IBM, serving the company in a variety of sales and marketing management positions in Richmond, Raleigh, Phoenix, Seattle, and Denver. In 1969, she married Joseph Leggett of Washington, NC. They divorced in 1980.
A few years later, Ann met Peter Erdenberger, an independent consulting engineer and entrepreneur, at an American Cancer Society charity event in Denver. They married in March, 1983 and made their home in Franktown, CO. Seven years later, they relocated to Atlanta to accept a new assignment with IBM and Peter maintained his independent consulting practice.
In 1993, Ann retired from IBM and began her second career by immersing herself in her first love — photography. Over the next 11 years she channeled her creative passion and considerable business acumen into a highly successful fine art and portrait studio, Ann Erdenberger Photography, in the Sandy Springs area of Atlanta. Recognized professionally for her work with image transfer and digital watercolor interpretation portraits in gicl/e, Ann was highly sought by clients for her stunning children’s portraiture. Ann’s skill with children was special. Ably assisted by her golden retriever, Sheba, Ann could tame even the most rambunctious toddler to capture that once in a lifetime expression. Even after closing her studio and relocating to Winston-Salem, NC in 2004, former clients continued to enlist her services to chronicle milestones in their children’s lives. The beautiful images seen through Ann’s eye and captured by her lens provide a wonderfully emotive and enduring legacy for all who survive her.
Surviving are her husband Peter Erdenberger of Winston-Salem and step-daughters Gabby Moore and her husband Greg of Seattle, WA; Heidi Gunn and her husband Randy of Ft. Collins, CO; and Lilly Daniels of Golden, CO; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a sister, Lamar Swain Taft and her husband Charles of Bethania, NC; a brother, Wingate E. Swain, Jr. and his wife Nancy of Durham, NC; and half-sisters Nancy Wright and her husband Chuck of Raleigh; Susan Taylor and her husband Larry of W. Friendship, MD and Betsy Filippone and her husband Michael of Mt. Pleasant, SC.
Also surviving are a niece, Ann Fleming Taft Powell and husband Joseph of Charlotte, NC; and nephews C. Spencer Taft, his wife Shannon and children Erin and Jordan of Atlanta, GA; Wesley V. Taft, his wife Emily and children Raymond and Spencer of Winston-Salem; and Benjamin A. Swain, his wife Jennifer and son, Wesley of Durham.
She also leaves her beloved West Highland White Terrier, Cappy, to Peter’s care.
Preceding her in death are her mother, Florence, her father, Wingate, and her stepfather, Leon Roebuck.
A memorial service celebrating Ann’s life will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem on Thursday, October 23 at 3 p.m. The family will receive visitors following the service in the Colhoun Room of St. Paul’s. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to contribute memorials to the American Cancer Society and to Cancer Services, Incorporated (www.cancerservicesonline.org).
Paid Obituary