Elizabeth Ann Ruff Wise

Elizabeth Ann R. “Zan” Wise, 86, of Batesburg, widow of John Bell Wise, died Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home.

Born on March 28, 1936, in Newberry County, she was the daughter of the late Robert Lee and Marian Olivia Halfacre Ruff.  She attended St. Philip’s Grammer School and graduated from Pomaria High School in 1954.  In 1958 she graduated from Newberry College with a AB degree in Music and Education.  Mrs. Wise obtained graduate hours from Furman University.  She retired after 30 years from the Batesburg-Leesville School District 3 where she taught 5^th grade.

She was a lifelong member of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church.

Music was a great passion of hers and music was  a major part of her life.  She served as pianist in high school at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, as organist at the Newberry ARP Church while in college and as organist at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Batesburg for 60 years. She taught private piano lessons from 1958-1968. Throughout the years she played for many weddings and funerals in Newberry and Batesburg. She was actively involved with the Alph Tau Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International where she served on the local and state music committees and served as pianist for many conventions in Columbia.

She was awarded the Batesburg-Leesville Career Women of the Year in 1990.

Mrs. Wise is survived by a brother, Robert Marian “Robby” Ruff and his wife, Wilma Shealy Ruff; niece, Susan Marian Ruff Swygert and husband, Michael T. “Mike” Swygert; great-nieces, Brooke Shealy Swygert and Taylor Ruff Swygert.  She was predeceased by brothers-in-law, William Bouknight “Billy” Wise and J.F. Wise and a special sister-in-law, Peggy Wise.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday, May 27, 2022, at St. Philip’s Lutheran Church by the Rev. Terry Amick and the Rev. Andrew David Eargle.  Burial will be at 2:00 pm at the Holston – Wise Cemetery in Batesburg by the Rev. Scott Nurse.  Memorials may be made to St. Philip’s Lutheran Church, 2461 St. Philip’s Church Road, Newberry, SC 29108.

Active pallbearers will be Pat Thomason, George Ruff, Elmer Long, Von Long, Phil Epps and David Eargle.

Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Spencer Lovelace and his staff and the staff of J.F. Hawkins Nursing Home.