John Redman Wetherbee

SAVANNAH - John Redman Wetherbee passed away December 14, 2023 at his home in Savannah, Georgia with his loving wife, Diana, at his side. He was 71 years old and had been in treatment for melanoma. He was the eldest child born on December 11, 1952 to Richard and Patricia Wetherbee in Columbus, Ohio. John started school in Upper Arlington and finished in Delaware County, Ohio, graduating from Big Walnut High School in 1970, where he was known as “Shorty” in reference to his height. John embarked on a life-long career in broadcasting when, in high school, he started working at WBBY, then in Sunbury, Ohio. He graduated from Wooster College in 1974 and continued his work in radio at stations around the country, including in Chicago and Atlanta, taking on the name “Big John” Wetherbee. His family then settled permanently in Georgia. John earned an additional degree in meteorology from the Mississippi State which allowed him to merge his twin loves of radio and weather, working as a meteorologist on both television and radio. At the time of his death, he was providing forecasts for multiple radio stations across the US and Canada. He had just been named to the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

John’s love of radio was only surpassed by his love for his family. In addition to his wife Diana, he is survived by his 3 cherished daughters, Cristen (Michael) Dutcher, Sara (George) Warner and Heidi Wetherbee, as well as 5 beloved grandchildren, Jack Dutcher and Eliza, Kaitlyn, Isabel and Noah Warner. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Kathy (Jim) Betzhold, Peter Wetherbee (Ruth Rappaport), Susie (Martin) Hall, Betsy (Don) Jackson and Paul (Gretchen Colonius).

A memorial service was held in Savannah, Georgia on January 6, 2024.