In an article announcing his retirement, he said the writing had stopped flowing like it used to, possibly because of the pain medication he was taking for his terminal cancer.
"It wasn't a decision I made easily but it got to the stage it became a chore, and if you're not enjoying it, why do it?"
Mr George was never short of expressing his opinion on everything from fluoride to gay marriage and everything in between.
His writing was often coloured by his strong Christian beliefs.
"Part of it is the fact that I have been blatantly Christian. A lot don't like that at all," Mr George told the Daily Post in February.
He said one of his most memorable columns was one he wrote for the Herald several years ago about feminism, where he argued that it had gone too far and become too radical.
After the column was picked up by an American website he received more than 100 emails from "furious feminists" in the United States calling him all manner of filthy names.
He said at the time that he'd never been upset or offended by the criticism.
"I've always said what I think.
"I have no emotional investment in my writing, it's a purely intellectual exercise. I've got no anger or resentment or bitterness and I don't get upset by sometimes rancid critics."
Mr George also made a pact early on not to respond to critics. "If I did I'd have no time for anything else."
Upon his retirement, he said his journalism highlights included covering the Manapouri Power Scheme and a fire at the Te Anau Hotel.
He also said his time working at the Herald, where he was in charge of editorial pages, was the "most enjoyable" of his career.
Former Rotorua Daily Post editor Kim Gillespie said Mr George had been a much-valued columnist whose views often sparked a response from readers.
"Garth had a knack for getting right to the heart of an issue, and while I didn't always agree with what he wrote, you couldn't deny his passion for both writing and for his beliefs."
He is survived by his wife Judith, children Michele and Michael, and grandchildren Ben and Holly.
A mass will be held for him on Friday at St Mary's Catholic Church in Rotorua from 1pm, followed by a private burial.
- NZ Herald Staff & Matthew Martin of the Rotorua Daily Post
