Greene County News
RIVERSIDE — Sharon Busch, Ann Lewis Cooper, Sue Rytel and Gerry Stambaugh were inducted into the 36th Greene County Women’s Hall of Fame on Sept. 24 for their dedication to the communities they live in and the county overall. Guest speaker for the event held at Walnut Grove County Club was county resident and long-time local historian Joan Baxter.
Sharon Busch
Sharon Busch of Beavercreek was inducted for her endeavors in music education. A music teacher within the Beavercreek School system for 36 years, she retired in 2014. During her tenure she taught choir at the elementary, junior high/middle school and high school levels, and introduced show choir at both the middle schools. She was Teacher of the Year in Beavercreek Schools in 1990. All of her musical groups performed multiple concerts and entered many show choir competitions where they earned many grand champion and caption awards as well as Superior I ratings both at district and state Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) competitions. She has also served as clinician for Wright State University and the University of Dayton annual Honor Choir, as well as an OMEA conference presenter and clinician. Sharon currently gives private voice and piano lessons, teaches choir and accompanies the Children’s Traveling Opera sponsored by the Dayton Opera.
Ann Lewis Cooper
Beavercreek resident Ann Lewis Cooper was inducted for her endeavors in aviation and qriting. Ann has as a pilot and flight instructor accrued over 2,000 flight hours and as a writer has authored 700 magazine articles and 11 books. She was a full-fledged aviator, certified flight instructor, and ground school flight instructor, but in 1982 she gave up flying to care for her mother who had become seriously ill. She didn’t give up her love of aviation, though, and began writing about it instead. She took the job as editor of The American Society of Aviation Artists and continued her passion. Her first book was Tuskegee’s Heroes. She also wrote War in Pacific Skies in collaboration with husband Maj. Gen. Charles S. Cooper III USAF (ret.). She authored two books on aviation art and then began writing biographies of women pilots, remembering her motto “Amelia wasn’t the only one.” She was named the Women in Aviation International Volunteer in 2010.
Sue Rytel
Sue Rytel of Fairborn was chosen for her endeavors as an environmental volunteer. Sue has been an active volunteer with the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association for more than 13 years, has held positions as Trustee, Publicity Chair, Secretary, and is currently vice president. She took on more responsibility for design and publication of the newsletter, and participates in many volunteer projects working on land management projects, working booths at fairs and festivals, helping with mailings and developing many programs and hikes. Sue is also very involved with the B-W Greenway Community Land Trust, whose goal is to protect wetlands in both Clark and Greene Counties. Her volunteer efforts involve particularly the Food and Farming Team of that organization, including producing an annual Local Food Directory. She was the recipient of the Beavercreek Chamber of Commerce Environmental Award in 2010.
Gerry Shambaugh
Xenia resident Gerry Shambaugh was inducted for her endeavors as a community volunteer. She has been helping people in Xenia and Greene County for more than 45 years. For many years she helped cook for and feed the homeless through organizations such as Heart for the Homeless in Dayton and through Helping Hands. She has been instrumental in the establishment of numerous benefit programs raising money for clothes, food and even medical expenses for those in need. She and her husband Roger collect donations and put together Christmas baskets of food and gifts, even providing bedding and other needs for families. Previously they provided Christmas parties for the children at the OSSO Home in Xenia.