Rodger Dean Springer, 76, Wake Forest, N.C., formerly of Murphy, passed away on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.
Rod was born July 16, 1946, in Zanesville, Ohio, the son of the late Helen Ferne Springer and Chester Earl Springer.
Rod moved to Atlanta, Ga., when he was eight, graduated from North Fulton High School in 1964, and received a degree in Business from Georgia State University in 1969.
For 43 years, he worked at various banks in Georgia and North Carolina. The last 20 years of his banking career he worked and retired from United Community Bank, Blairsville, Ga.
During his 20-year residency in Murphy he was co-chair of the American Cancer Society Cherokee County Relay for Life for many years, raising thousands of dollars in the fight against cancer. For six years, he supported, kept the financial records for and participated in the Cherokee/Clay County Senior Games.
He loved 1960s music/dance, traveling and square dancing.
Papa Rod loved his grandchildren; playing and being silly with them brought him great joy.
Rod was always a fierce and successful competitor in sports from the time he and his teammates finished second in the Georgia High School Association “AAA” final 440 yards relay (1964). That competitive spirit led to many tennis matches, old man softball games, and different sports activities offered by the N.C. Senior Games, from track events, to the discus and shot put, usually winning the local gold medal and often qualifying for the state meet. Losing was not in his DNA.
After moving to Wake Forest in 2013, Rod joined Wake Forest United Methodist Church, was on the Wake Forest Planning Board for two years and became the first HOA President for his 48 home neighborhood.
Rod is survived by his wife of 51 years, Louise Springer; a son, Jason Springer and wife Jessie, their children, Lexi and Gia; daughters, Rebecca Ross and son-in-law Andrew, their children, Livy and Macy; and Amanda Murtha and son-in-law Jason, their children, Bennett, Eisley and Emmy; and his sister, Cheri Springer Pyke.
He will be remembered as a “good man,” by family, friends and all who knew him.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Wake Forest United Methodist Church, 905 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587.
Family will receive friends in the church narthex after the service.
Memorials may be made to Transitions LifeCare Philanthropy Dept., 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, transitionslifecare.org/donate or to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047, lbda.org/donate.
Condolences may be shared at CremationSocietyNC.com.