Former astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn died on Thursday in Ohio.
He was 95 years old.
Glenn was surrounded by family at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus when he died, The Columbus Dispatch reported. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, the former Anna Margaret Castor, and the couple's children, Lyn and David.
Officials at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University said Wednesday that Glenn was hospitalized, although the reason for his hospitalization was not immediately clear.
Glenn's health was in decline in recent years. During an event earlier this year in Columbus, the former senator said he had lost some of his eyesight because of macular degeneration and a small stroke, The Associated Press reported.
In 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. From 1974 to 1993, he represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
He became the oldest man to fly in space when he served as a payload specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998. That nine-day mission was accomplished in 134 Earth orbits.
Glenn "reminded us that with courage and a spirit of discovery, there's no limit to the heights we can reach together," President Barack Obama said.
"With John's passing, our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend. John spent his life breaking barriers. ... The last of America's first astronauts has left us, but propelled by their example we know that our future here on Earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens. On behalf of a grateful nation, Godspeed, John Glenn."
President-elect Donald Trump also remembered Glenn, writing on Twitter that America "lost a great pioneer of air and space."
Laura A. Bischoff with Dayton Daily News contributed to this story.
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