Lila Ann Ott Vodkin

Urbana, Illinois

Lila Ann Ott Vodkin, Ph. D. died peacefully on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois. She is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Michael H. Vodkin. Lila was predeceased by her parents, Furman Edward Ott and Mildred Stewart Ott, formerly of Laurens County, South Carolina. She is survived by her five brothers, Furman Edward Ott, Jr. of Cross Hill, South Carolina; Randall Stewart Ott, DVM of Champaign, Illinois; Edwin Eugene Ott of Waterloo, South Carolina; Jan Cunningham Ott of Houston, Texas, and Mark Connelly Ott of Laurens County, South Carolina.

Lila was born in Laurens County Hospital on December 21, 1950. She attended schools in Laurens, South Carolina, graduating Laurens High School with honors in 1969. Lila graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Physics in 1972 and a M.S. in Biology in 1975. She earned a Ph.D. in Genetics from North Carolina State University in 1978. From 1978 to 1987 she served as Research Geneticist, GS11-13, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Dept of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD.

In 1987, she accepted the position of Associate Professor of Crop Molecular Biology and Genetics in the Department of Agronomy, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. In 1995 she was promoted to Professor of Crop Molecular Biology and Genetics at the University. In 2004 until her retirement in 2014, she was awarded the Charles Adlai Ewing Endowed Chair in Soybean Molecular Biology at the Department of Crop Sciences.

While at the University of Illinois, she authored/coauthored over 100 peer-reviewed articles. She was a world-recognized expert in the genetics of soybeans. She mentored dozens of post-graduate students and brought into the University more than 10 million dollars in research funding. Students who cycled through her lab went on for careers in academia and private industry. Through mentor committees, she advised and assisted younger faculty members in attaining tenure or promotion. As a professor emerita, she continued to advise graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Lila will be sorely missed by her family. Per her wishes, there will be no memorial or service. Donations may be made to the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Watertown, MA in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be offered at www.morganmemorialhome.com.