Lila Laverne Dittfurth

Lila Laverne Greenwade Dittfurth, age 94, of Fort Worth, Texas, went to be with our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, May 9, 2026. She passed away peacefully, at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Lila was Born on July 12, 1931 in Whitney, Texas to Pike and Lillie Belle Greenwade. The family subsequently moved to Meridian, Texas when their homesite was submerged as a result of the development of Lake Whitney. The family homestead remained in Meridian until 1989, when Lillie passed away.

Lila married Raymond Dittfurth on April 16, 1949 in Meridian, TX. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, aunt and great-aunt. She was the matriarch of our family. Her family was her greatest joy, and she never missed an opportunity to celebrate life together. In her 94 years, she experienced more life than most people read about in books. She loved fiercely and endured, caring for Raymond until he passed away at home at 100 and a half.

Lila is preceded in death by her husband Raymond, her son Royce Wayne Dittfurth, parents Pike & Lillie Greenwade, her three brothers Ernest Greenwade, Travis Greenwade, Carthol Greenwade, and four sisters Jewell Royal, Helen Harris, Pauline Garwood and Marcel McCorcle. Upon Marcel’s death, Raymond and Lila welcomed her daughters Lori and Stephanie McCorcle into their home and became their legal guardians.

Lila is survived by her daughter Linda Dittfurth Thomason (and husband John), son Russell Dittfurth (and wife Lisa), grandchildren Ryan Dittfurth, Courtney Dittfurth Alexander and Travis Thomason, great-grandchildren Lynli Mae Dittfurth, Cannon Wade Dittfurth, Cy Judson Dittfurth, Lila Grace Alexander, Colton Luke Alexander, Wyatt Elijah Alexander and Nora Eizabeth Alexander, nieces Lori & Stephanie McCorcle and many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Raised on a farm during the Great Depression by a single mother with seven siblings, Lila learned determination, perseverance, resilience and stubbornness, although those traits come naturally in our family, either from our German heritage or pure Texas country grit. Her mother and siblings share-cropped to help feed the family. She was never one to mince words about her opinions and quick to share what she knew or felt. Her stories were long and plentiful and often of a funny calamitous nature, recalling family memories or varied life experiences.

Lila spent 30 years in the workforce, working first at Texas Instruments and then at General Dynamics manufacturing and testing circuit boards used in the production of military aircraft. She retired from General Dynamics in 1988.

In her younger ‘grandma’ years, she would enjoy adventures big and small, teaching the appreciation of God’s beauty in the wildflowers and roadside stops, still seeking opportunities to go to places she’d never been. She traveled with her family, church family and friends. Places like Europe with Courtney, Washington DC, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone with Raymond, Russell and Lisa; Pikes Peak, Mesa Verde and Carlsbad for a summer trip, Texas road trips with grandkids travelling on highways that Raymond helped build or revisiting places from family trips long ago in Oregon with Stephanie and many others. She braved field trips and Girl Scout camping trips, baseball tournament trips and great-grandkids performances, spending time at the lake with grandkids. She was eager to teach life skills of long ago such as gardening, canning, cooking, sewing upon which her childhood family relied.

Lila and Raymond were not charter members of Haltom Road Baptist Church but they were lifelong members, joining within 5 years of the church’s 1954 founding and maintaining their membership for over 67 years. Both were active in the church until they were physically unable to attend. Lila knew Jesus and loved her church dearly. She could be found in the nursery taking care of the ‘Bed Babies’; or at the east entrance of the church, keeping the porch swept while greeting members as they arrived. Mid-week would find her in the church kitchen as part of the Wednesday night supper crew for many years. In their later years, Raymond and Lila visited homebound members. Lila was also a faithful member of the ‘Joy’ class and the home-baked goodies she would provide at parties were always in high demand, especially her Christmas candy.

Her love, wisdom, and advice will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Haltom Road Baptist Church, in her honor.