Fund Est. 2007
December 29, 1959 to August 1, 2007
Elizabeth A. "Liz" Souder was born in Ft. Leonardwood, MO on December 29, 1959 to Neil & Susan (Heller) Keller and was laid to rest 47 short years later. She had two siblings: Craig Keller and Jan Gross. She married Steve Souder on June 24, 2005.
Liz graduated from Bellmont in 1978 and attended Ball State University for two years, majoring in accounting and business management. She spent the next few years raising a family and working at Honda – Yamaha of Decatur in bookkeeping.
Liz was a ‘Nontraditional college-student’ before the term was widely understood. Pursuing her dream of being an English teacher, at the age of 40, in 1997, Liz went back to college. In 2000, Liz graduated from IPFW and went on to teach six years at Adams Central (AC).
In her first four years as an AC senior English teacher, she was voted ‘Teacher-of-the-Year’ two times. Liz was the publications and yearbook supervisor and was the head of the student council for several years. Liz loved to teach but many students have said that she was more than just a teacher; she was like a mom to every one. Liz was also involved in her community as a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Decatur and a member of the Indiana State Teachers Association and the N.E.A.
Liz has two children Michael Fick, a Purdue University graduate with a degree in aeronautical engineering and Tracey Pruden. Liz had one stepson, Corey Souder, of Ft. Wayne and one grandchild Lillian Garner. Other family members include: her husband Steve Souder of Ft. Wayne; parents Neil & Sue Keller of Decatur, mother-in-law Dolores Souder of Auburn, IN; and two grandmothers Mary Jessup & Bernadine Heller both of Decatur.
Liz’s parents established this fund in 2008.