Kenneth Lile

Lake Junaluska, Reverend Kenneth "Ken" Lile, age 81, of 2237 S. Lakeshore Drive, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at his residence. Kenneth was a gifted musician, caring pastor, passionate teacher and true friend. A native of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, he had resided in Haywood County since 1996. He was the son of the late Roy William and Sue Grace Lile and was preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Evelyn Cloud, Ivyl Marie Buck, and Flossie Jane Cartwright and one brother, William Garland Lile. Reverend Lile was a graduate of Hopkinsville High School, Peabody College of Nashville, Tennessee, Birmingham-Southern College of Birmingham, Alabama, Garrett Evangelical Seminary at Northwestern University and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He received his Bachelor and Master of Theology Degrees at Drew University and a Ph.D ABD Honorary Degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky. Reverend Lile served as an Ordained Elder in the Louisville annual conference of the United Methodist Church, for forty-two years. Since retirement, he faithfully attended First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. ¬¬His life long passion for music culminated with fifteen years as an organist for the Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Martha Carol Pillow Lile; one son, Chaplain (LTC) David Wesley Lile and his wife, Gladys Niña Lile, their three children Kenneth Wesley Lile, Joshua Jackson Lile, and Rachel Maria Lile, of Fort Bragg; a daughter, Rebecca Kay Lile and her husband, David Wangerin-Lile, their two children Nathan Wangerin Lile and Christopher Wangerin Lile, of Waynesville. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Sanford Giles officiating. Inurnment will be in the Room of Memory Columbarium at Memorial Chapel, Lake Junaluska, at a later date. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services. In memory of the Reverend R. Kenneth Lile, memorials may be made to the Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska Organ Fund, c/o The Office of Development, P.O. Box 67, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745.

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