Eldon F. Studebaker

News Death Notice

STUDEBAKER, Eldon F. a nurseryman of 94 years of age, died in his home in New Carlisle, OH, on September 27, 2010. He was born in this same house on July 13, 1916, son of Guy E. and Ella (Funderburg) Studebaker. He graduated from New Carlisle High School, attended Manchester College in Indiana and Ohio State University, receiving a BS degree in agriculture. There he was a member of Alpha Zeta Fraternity and was elected to Gamma Sigma Delta, the national honor society of agriculture college graduates. Upon graduation he taught vocational agriculture at Dixon Township High School in Preble County, OH for two years. He married Ruth Workman, a commercial artist of Fredericktown, OH on June 4, 1938, "the happiest day of his life" and together they moved to Findley, OH, where he was employed by the US Department of Agriculture in a study of Hancock County agricultural land use. Later he became an Ohio State University assistant county extension agent for Lucas County, living in Toledo. There he pursued a post graduate degree in business management at the University of Toledo. In 1942 he became a full county extension agent in Paulding County, OH. Joining the US Navy war effort in 1944, he attended US Naval Officers Candidate School at Princeton University and served as an Armed Guard Commander aboard the Liberty Ship SS Harold T. Andrews, in the SW Pacific Theater. He traveled to Australia, the Philippines, Okinawa, Shanghai and Tsingtao, China until he separated from the Navy as a Lieutenant JG in March 1946. Following WW II, he returned with his family to New Carlisle, where he joined with his brother, Gerald Studebaker, in general farming, specializing in growing and marketing irrigated potatoes. At that time, he was a member of the board of the Ohio Vegetable and Potato Association and a member of the board and president of the Ohio Potato Marketing Association in Columbus, OH. In 1956, he founded Studebaker Nurseries, growers of wholesale nursery stock, ceased growing potatoes in 1973 and with his partner-brother began expanding the nursery greatly. He was an original member of his beloved International Plant Propagators Society for 50 years. His lifelong love of propagation of trees, shrubs and evergreens was what got the nursery started and was his deep passion. His backyard is a testament to the many unique species of trees that he himself initiated and planted; each one with a special story accompanying it. Eldon was an active lifelong member of the New Carlisle Church of the Brethren, serving in many capacities, including Deacon for fifty years. When the Southern Ohio District Church of the Brethren sought to establish an outdoor education center and church camp, he served as chairman of the Building Committee of Camp Woodland Altars in the hills of beautiful southern Ohio in Adams County. Generations of Brethren campers have since enjoyed and expressed their faith in this beautiful outdoor setting. Turning Studebaker Nurseries over to the next generation of family in the early 1980's, his underlying interest in woodworking, carpentry and antiques and history began to take center stage in his later life. His membership in The Woodworker's of Western Ohio, the Dayton Antique Study Club, The Mad River Valley Country Antique Study Club and his rebuilding of a two story, 1841 log house in his backyard, reflected those interests. He and Ruth made multiple trips to public gardens and to find family roots in Great Britain and Europe, with many wonderful memories of traveling together with family and visiting friends. He loved to travel and get away and see the world and many happy, memorable times were had by family on extended camping trips to the western USA. He served a term as a member of the Clark County Board of District Health, and was a trustee and treasurer of the Studebaker Family National Association for 30 years, which produced a published Studebaker genealogy. He was honored as Sertoman of the Year in 2003 and also by the Tecumseh Local School District as a Hall of Honor member in 2006. Eldon is survived by his four children, ten grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Daughter Nancy (Studebaker) Ulrich and husband Larry Ulrich of Lombard, IL, have three sons with families all in the mid-west, Michael Jon, Andy and Joel. Son Stephen and wife Wendy Allen reside in Durango, Colorado and Stephen has two daughters, Hilary and Stephanie, with families in Colorado Springs. Son Ted of Oak Park, IL has two daughters, Laura and Christina, with families in the Seattle area. Son Dan and wife Len (Cihak) of New Carlisle, OH have three children Nick, Luke and Ingrid living in Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by a sister, Roberta Eby of Goleta, CA and a sister-in-law, Thelma Studebaker, of New Carlisle. Preceding him in death was his beloved wife of sixty years, Ruth, sister and husband, Alma and Robert Noffsinger, brother-in-law, Walter Dale Eby, and brother, Gerald Studebaker. Visitation with the family will be at the TROSTEL, CHAPMAN, DUNBAR & FRALEY FUENRAL HOME in New Carlisle on Friday, October 15th from 5 to 8 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the New Carlisle Church of the Brethren on Saturday, October 16th at 11:00 a.m. Internment at the convenience of the family will be at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The New Carlisle Church of the Brethren, 219 N. Main St, New Carlisle, OH 45344 or Community Mercy Hospice, 444 W. Harding Road, Springfield, OH 45504. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.trostelchapman.com