WJXT (Jacksonville) announced that their longtime former Chief Met, George Winterling, had passed away.

Winterling served as the station’s first chief meteorologist and held the position for 47 years before retiring in 2009. He became the station’s chief in 1962.

Winterling started a garden outside the station a few years into his tenure.

Winterling would frequently share his knowledge with our viewers about growing seasons and recorded videos of himself and his granddaughter working in the garden.

The segment appeared during evening newscasts and became wildly popular.

George Winterling was 91 years old.