John Rodney Varner

John Rodney Varner, age 67, Co-Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Genprex, Inc, died very peacefully on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Austin, Texas as he had lived, surrounded by the love of his family and in the arms of his wife and the love of his life, Roxanne Varner.

He was born in the greatest place on earth, Caldwell Texas, county seat of Burleson County, where he roamed the Brazos River bottoms shooting squirrels. His father, Edward Akin Varner, (who had flown troops ashore on D-Day), and Mother, Doris Bell Varner, raised Rodney, his brother Edward, and his sisters Thanna and Donna on a ranch in the country. When Rodney’s father died, he left Caldwell High School at age sixteen and studied accounting at Texas A&M University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He met Roxanne Caperton Varner at a dance at the Knights of Columbus when he was sixteen and he never dated anyone else. Rodney and Roxanne were married 48 years and had two children, Adam (Hen), and Elizabeth (Christopher). And five grandchildren, Grace, Luke, Lily, John, and Juliette.

After A&M, Rodney attended and graduated from the University of Texas law school, becoming an Attorney at age twenty-one. He practiced law at Brown Maroney, Small Craig and Werkenthin, and Wilson & Varner. In 2009 he co-founded Genprex, Inc, a cutting-edge biotechnology company fighting cancer and diabetes.

Rodney was preceded in death by his mother and father, and brother Edward.

He is survived by his wife Roxanne Caperton Varner, his son Adam Varner (Hen), and Elizabeth Varner (Christopher) and his grandchildren, Grace, Luke, Lily, John, and Juliette; as well as his sisters, nieces, nephews, a host of true friends, and the team of heroes at Genprex. He remained a crack shot, a brilliant executive, and in love with Roxanne until the day he died.

A service will be held at Shepherd of the Hills, 3525 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, Tx on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 10:00 am. A graveside service will be at 3:00 pm that day at the Caldwell Masonic cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.