Greene County News Report
XENIA – A fixture with the Xenia Daily Gazette and Greene County newspapers has died. Elizabeth “Lizz” Studebaker, 83, died Tuesday morning, June 30 surrounded by her family.
Lizz was part of the Gazette family for more than 20 years. She owned her own business, Creative Services, but worked directly with the Gazette as a feature writer and then as a columnist over the years.
Greene Medical Foundation President Jeff Brock began working with Lizz in 1992 during Old Fashioned Days and Xenia Chamber of Commerce activities. Brock was with Cedarville University at the time and has interacted with her on and off since then.
“We are really sorry to see Lizz leave us,” said Brock. “There are few who cheered for Xenia and Greene County as passionately as she did, and she worked hard to put so many in the spotlight, including Greene Memorial Hospital.”
She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Xenia Kiwanis Club, the former chairman of Women’s Recovery Center Board of Directors and so much more. She received the James E. West Fellows Award in memory of her husband, Jerry Studebaker, who died in 2000, from the Boys Scout of America, Troop #165, in 2006.
Knowing her in many capacities within Xenia, John Balmer said, “She was a wonderful friend that I knew for many years. She was a special gift to the community and our Kiwanis club. She had a love for the area and it showed in the many writings. She will be greatly missed.”
“Lizz was so special to all of us,” said Greene County News Managing Editor Merrilee Embs. “There wasn’t anyone that didn’t know her and appreciate her talent in working with people and writing. I met Lizz 20 years ago when I first started out at the Gazette, she was a mentor and the first person I would call if I needed to know about an organization or a person in Greene County. Lizz was a wonderful lady that will be truly missed.”
Services are pending with Neeld Funeral Home in Xenia. More information to follow tomorrow.