Lila Fite Roden

Lila Fite Roden passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, in Knoxville, TN. She was born August 19, 1928, in Cannon County, Tennessee, the daughter of Dr. D. Harley Fite and Esther Robinson Fite. She was married for 71 years to the late Paul William (Bill) Roden. She graduated from Clarksville High School, Clarksville, TN, and attended Austin-Peay College, Clarksville, TN and Florence State College, Florence, AL. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carson-Newman College.

She is survived by four children, Paul W. Roden Jr. (Jenny), Charlotte Blackburn (Philip), Stanley Roden (Karen), and Nancy Bland. Grandchildren survivors are David Roden, Emily Roden (Mic Pringle), Blake Roden (Nicole), Grant Roden (Jennifer), Elizabeth Bland, Mackenzie Bland, Daniel Watson (Hayley), Carrie Aron (Chris), and Brandon Blackburn (Meredith). Surviving great-grandchildren are Weston, Bennett, Kayla, Aubrey, Harry, Ellis, Katie, Colin, Madi, Harrison, and Jameson. Also surviving is sister Esther Fite Rabenstein and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. Lila was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister Bettye Ruth Fite Forney.

Lila’s career was in public education, teaching for twenty-plus years in North Carolina and Jefferson City, Tennessee. She taught at both the middle and high school levels but is most remembered for her eighteen years as a 4th grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School where her sister Esther also taught 4th grade. In their retirement years she and Bill traveled to Zhengzhou, China, where she taught English and Composition for one year. Lila and Bill loved traveling, camping, hiking, and tennis. They traveled to all fifty United States.

Lila was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed gardening, arranging flowers, baking, and especially reading. She loved entertaining family and friends, sharing delicious and beautiful creations from her gardens. A lifelong Baptist, Lila was a member of West Hills Baptist Church, Knoxville, for the past two years. She will be remembered for her sweetness and kindness.

Please consider a donation to Esther Robinson Fite Scholarship Fund, the D. Harley Fite Scholarship Fund, both care of Carson Newman University, Jefferson City, TN, or the charity of your choice.

A celebration of Lila’s life will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN. Friends will be received at 10:00 a.m. and are welcome to her service at 11:30 a.m. Lila’s graveside service will be in Florence, AL, at Florence City Cemetery the following day, Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements by Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN