Mary Elizabeth Anderson died on June 27, 1953, at her summer home in Monteagle, Tennessee, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of the life of a pioneering inventor who, despite not achieving financial success during her lifetime, made a significant contribution to automotive safety and convenience.

On November 10, 1903, Mary Anderson was granted U.S. Patent No. 743,801 for her window cleaning device, which would later be known as the windshield wiper. This patent was a significant milestone in her journey as an inventor, providing her with legal protection for her innovative design.