John W. Studebaker; Ex-U.S. Commissioner of Education

John W. Studebaker, 102, who served as U.S. commissioner of education from 1924 to 1948. Studebaker became a vice president of Scholastic Inc. in 1948 and retired from the publishing company in 1968. He had been superintendent of schools in Des Moines, Iowa, for 14 years before becoming commissioner. Studebaker wrote several books, including “The American Way” and “Plain Talk.” In Walnut Creek, Calif., on Wednesday.