ATHENS, Ohio –Elizabeth M. Westenbarger, 88, of Athens, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Lindley Inn in The Plains, Ohio. Born December 17, 1937, in The Plains, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Robert Wilson and May Amorette McCullough Moore.
Elizabeth graduated from Grandview Heights High School in 1955 and later from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in 1975. She would go on to become an accountant and Manager of Accounts Payable in the Office of the Vice President of Finance at Ohio University, retiring in 2006 and awarded Emeriti Status. She previously worked at Planned Parenthood of Southeast Ohio and Sports, Inc., on Court Street in Athens. Elizabeth was active in the Athens community including Board membership and/or volunteer stints with Ohio Valley Summer Theater (OVST,) United Campus Ministry (UCM,) Appalachian Peace & Justice Network, La Leche League, and the Visiting Nurses Association. She was also a regular at the Monday Noon Peace Vigil at the Athens County Courthouse.
Elizabeth is survived by her husband Gene A. Westenbarger whom she married on July 9, 1958, in Grandview, Ohio; her four children, Susan Westenbarger, David Westenbarger (Kathleen Ensey), Jeffrey Westenbarger (Ginger Schmalenberg,) and Karen Leiser; six grandchildren, Elise Westenbarger, Quinn Schmalenberg Westenbarger, Rhys Westenbarger, Lars Westenbarger, Ariel Leiser, Naomi Leiser, and one great granddaughter, Pepper Westenbarger-McGrath.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four siblings, Michael A. Moore, Peter R. L. Moore, Millicent M. Moore, and Patrick O. Moore.
Elizabeth was laid to rest at Pedigo Cemetery near New Marshfield, Ohio. A memorial service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens (184 Longview Heights Road) at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 8. Friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at https://www.ehwfh.com/obituaries/elizabeth-westenbarger.