John (“Rod”) Walker, age 61, of Columbia, SC, passed away peacefully on December 23rd at his home surrounded by family. He was born on September 10th, 1962 to the late Benjamin F. and Jean H. Walker. Rod touched the lives of many with his immediate openness, warmth, wisdom, and sense of humor.

Rod pursued his education at Clemson University and went on to lead a successful professional career in the energy industry - ultimately establishing his own consulting practice which left a lasting impact on his colleagues and the communities they served and clients they helped.

Rod is survived by his 6 children, Jeremy, Emily, Abigail, Timothy, Sam, and Zachary as well as grandchildren, Leland and Everly Walker. Rod's passions included cooking and sampling food from around the world as well as reading, writing and hiking. He could often be found in the kitchen or at the grill, settled into a chair reading a good book, or outside admiring the beauty of nature.

Anyone who knew Rod knew that he was a man of honor... A man that gave generously with his heart and his time. He was a man who was also willing to be vulnerable. To set aside his pride and dig into the truth of the matter.

In parallel, the vulnerable truth is that we are working very hard as a family to gather the financial resources needed to honor Rod appropriately. We could use your help. The need is real and our gratitude runs deeper than words could convey. We would be deeply grateful for your consideration of a memorial donation towards the funeral arrangements.

Your generosity during this challenging time would be immensely appreciated, and it will help ease the burden on Rod's family. Any amount, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference.

Your support means the world to us, and we are grateful for any assistance you can provide.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 6th, 2023 at 1pm-3pm at the Thompson Funeral Homes on 845 Leesburg Rd. Columbia, SC. Friends and family are invited to attend and celebrate Rod's life.

Thank you for helping us honor Rod's memory in a way that truly reflects the love and community that surrounded him in life.

With heartfelt thanks,

Rod's Family

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