Cynthia Ann Studebaker

Cynthia Ann Studebaker (Elster) passed away Saturday evening, February 26, 2005 at her home in Saint Joseph, Michigan at age 72. She was born June 5, 1932 in Hammond, Indiana the daughter of Leonard G. and Ruth E. (Martin) Elster, both of whom preceded her in death. On June 15, 1956 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Whiting, Indiana, she married A. Henry Studebaker who survives in Saint Joseph. She is also survived by, a son Alden (Donna) Studebaker of Bright, Indiana; two daughters- Rebecca (James) Downing of Aptos, California and Amy (Scott) Dennison of Saint Joseph, Michigan; and seven grandchildren- Jennifer, Nathan, and Daniel Studebaker, Aidan Downing, and Michael, Susan, and Brent Dennison. A son, Jonathan P. Studebaker and a brother William L. Elster also preceded her in death. Cynthia graduated from George Rodgers Clark High School in Hammond Indiana in 1950 and earned a degree in education from Indiana University in 1954. She taught at James Whitcomb Riley Elementary School, Hammond, Indiana in the mid-1950?s. In 1996 Cynthia and husband moved to Michigan from Southern California to be closer to grandchildren in the Mid-West. They had previously lived in Northern California, Southwest Michigan, Hawaii, and Northwest Indiana. Cynthia was an avid conservationist and supported various organizations including the Sierra Club, World Wildlife Foundation and American Rivers. Cynthia was sports minded from an early age when she rode city buses around the Indiana Calumet Region to attend high school basketball games. Her family attended Chicago Cubs games when she was a child and she remained a devoted Cub?s Fan all her life. She followed all college and professional sports all her life and in the last fifteen years NASCAR as well. Arrangements are entrusted to Kerley- Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph, MI. Friends are invited to send the family a condolence message or sign the guest book on line at www.starks-menchinger.com. Son Reverend Alden Studebaker of Garden Park Unity Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, will conduct a memorial service at a future date.