MARGIE, the only official World War ll Poster girl, passed away
on Thursday April 26, 2012 at Providence Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in
Burbank. She was 92. Originally from
Wabash, Indiana, Margie attended Indiana University and began her career as a
model at the Charles A. Stevens Department Store in Chicago. Within a short
time she had posed for numerous ad campaigns and made her way to Hollywood
where she soon was signed to a contract with RKO pictures. Margie appeared in
twenty films, including “Bombardier,” “Wonderman,” and “Gildersleeve’s Ghost” before she was tapped
to become the “Face of the girl back Home” to every G I around the world.
Over 94 Million posters went out as part of a campaign to sell
War Bonds and to boost the morale of the troops. It was so successful that
Eleanor Roosevelt tried to stop the campaign, complaining that the boys were
becoming too homesick! But thousands of letters poured in to the White House,
and the campaign went forward. While in
Europe with the Bond Cavalcade of Stars she met and married Captain Jerry
Johnson. They were married nearly 58 years before his death in 2003. She arrived home at the end of the war. To
this day she has fans around the world who visit her website and send her
requests for autographed pictures.
This month she became a cover girl again when she appeared on the
cover of Reminisce magazine and had
an eight page spread outlining her career as a starlet to World War ll icon.
She was a true American hero and died as passionate as ever about supporting
our troops and the country she loved so much. She is survived by her son, Dr.
Stephen Johnson, her daughter-in-law, Fran, and their three children, Derek,
Ian and Dana. In lieu of flowers donations to the USO are appreciated.
Links to articles about Margie:
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