'GMA' Weather Anchor Sam Champion's Father Passes Away

A familiar face to many across America has suffered a great loss: Sam Champion, weather anchor on ABC's Good Morning America, has lost his father Lt. Col. James H. Champion.

"After a life of service to his country and his family, Lt. Col. James H. Champion, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), passed away last night in Houston, Texas," Good Morning America senior executive producer Jim Murphy wrote in an e-mail to the show's staff today. "He was better known to us as Sam Champion's dad. Sam, his sister Teresa and his mom, Sylvia, were all together with the Lt. Col. at the end."

OK! NEWS: ELISABETH HASSELBECK JOINS GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Lt. Col. Champion is survived by his wife of 53 years Sylvia (Murphy) Champion, son Samuel James Champion, daughter Teresa Champion, son-in-law John Quigley, grandchildren Sydney and James Quigley.

OK! GALLERY: SELENA GOMEZ SPARKLES & SINGS ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA

"Sam tells me his tight knit military family is strong and hanging together to face their time of grief," Murphy writes in the email, via ABC. " Please give your thoughts and prayers to Sam and his family."

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests any donations in memoriam be made to:

MD Anderson Cancer Center (RE: Lt. Col. J. H. Champion)

PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210

or:

Virginia Autism Project at VirginiaAutismProject.org

Our thoughts are with Sam and his family at this time.