Rodney Samuel Deaton, passed away on October 27, 2026 at the age of 74 in Panama City Beach, FL. 

Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather is survived by his sons Lance (Elizabeth), Brian, Jeremy (Rachel) and Neal (Jordan); his grandchildren, Haley Brown, Gracie, Emily, Ansley Wilson, Presley, Ryleigh, Miles, Asher and Eli Williams; one great grandson, Brewer Brown. He was preceded in death by his father, Carver S. Deaton, mother, Opal L. Deaton, brother, Carver Kenneth Deaton and wife, Donna.

Rodney was born in Columbus, Georgia on September 19, 1952 to Carver Samuel and Opal Lee Deaton. As the son of a WWII and Korean War veteran, US Army non-commissioned officer, he grew up in and around military posts including Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Butzbach, West Germany, and Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he graduated from Hardaway High School in 1970. He went on to receive his Bachelor Degree from Columbus College and his Theological Certification from Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA.

Rodney spent his early years in the scrap metal industry with his father Carver until he moved away to attend Theology School. He then became the lead pastor with a church in Flagstaff, Arizona and would later transition back into the scrap industry. Rodney had a strong Christian faith and passed that faith onto his family and many others. As an ordained minister, he had the honor of marrying all four of his sons and two of his granddaughters. Upon his retirement he moved to his dream destination, Panama City Beach, Florida.

The memorial service will be at McMullen Funeral Home, 3874 Gentian Blvd, Columbus, GA on Saturday November 14, at 2:00pm EST. Family with receive friends and relatives at 1:00pm EST prior to the service.

The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to Outlook Nebraska at https://outlooken.org/oe/donate/