Rhodonda "Rod" Hill

Rhodonda Rod Miller Hill, 87, Kingsport, died Sunday October 11, 2009.

Born in Grundy County, IA, Rhodonda attended schools in Oskaloosa, IA, and was a graduate of the University of Iowa. Having received a scholarship from the University of Louisville, she earned a Masters Degree in Medical Social Work and worked as a social worker at the VA Hospital in Louisville, KY. Rod was diagnosed with diabetes in 1942.

She was happily married to her husband, Jim, for 61 years. In July 1951, she and Jim moved to Kingsport, where she worked with the Family Service Agency. In September 1953, they moved their family to New Jersey and later to St. Louis, MO, Memphis, TN, and Chicago, IL; returning to Kingsport in November 1969. At that time, realizing that there was very little education for people with diabetes in Kingsport, she and seven others developed by-laws and started the Kingsport Diabetes Association KDA. Mrs. Hill served as President of the association for two terms the maximum allowable per the by-laws and spent the rest of her life promoting diabetes education in Kingsport including sending children to a two week educational camp annually. She worked with John Dodson, Holston Valley Hospital Manager, to set up meetings in the Education Department of the hospital where educational meetings were attended by as many as 100 people.

In addition to her other work, Rod also wrote a four-page KDA newsletter for eight years which was mailed to several hundred people with diabetes or with diabetics in the family. She also developed and published a cookbook for diabetics. Several thousand have been sold, including a second edition still in print. Rod was an example for diabetics proving by example that, with discipline, a good diet, and taking medication as prescribed, a person with diabetes can live a full life. She lived life to the fullest with diabetes for 67 of her 87 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Roxy Miller; four brothers; and one sister.

Rod was a beloved and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Surviving are her husband, Jim Hill, of Kingsport; daughter, Rebecca Hill, of Kingsport; son, David Hill and wife Susan, of Crestview, FL; grandchildren, Leslie Hill, and Corey Hill and wife, Katie; great-granddaughter, Lorelei Grace Hill. She loved them, and they loved her.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport.

Funeral services will be held on Friday at 2:00 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport, with Dr. Marvin Cameron officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kingsport Diabetes Association; P.O. Box 3952; Kingsport, TN 37664 or First Baptist Church, 200 West Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.