Terrence "Terry" Paul Walker

Walker, Terrence Paul - 6/3/58 – 10/13/26

Terry Walker passed away peacefully at his home in Johns Island, SC, on Oct. 13, 2026, loved and supported by his partner, Felicia Migliori-Balch. He was the loving and proud father of Cameron Walker, Columbus, OH; and Caitlin Walker, Boston, MA. A treasured and respected brother, brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, friend and mentor, he impacted many through his kind heart, brilliant mind and sharp wit.

Terry was the son of Paul Walker, Jr., and Dorothy Walker Albrecht. He grew up in St. Louis, MO, and was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. Studying at Indiana University, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Boston University and the Center for Astrophysics/Harvard & Smithsonian, Terry earned a doctorate in astrophysics. He built a three-decade career at The Ohio State University where he helped establish and lead the OSU Center for Cosmology and Astro Particle Physics, teaching thousands of students and publishing dozens of papers, including seminal work on Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

He was, first and foremost, a dad: loving, teaching, inspiring and supporting, especially through hockey, academics and countless family traditions. He pursued all his hobbies with passion, whether it was biking, golfing, fly fishing, cooking or grilling. He read the books, watched the videos and practiced relentlessly to become expert in each. His love of fly fishing took him to Ohio rivers, Missouri lakes, Wyoming streams and the Florida coast where he landed a tarpon on the fly, his prize catch.

In keeping with Terry’s wishes, services will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation - James Island, 347 Folly Road, Charleston, SC 29412, (843) 614-8494.