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| RIP Dolores DeFina Hope, Wife Of Bob Hope, 102 |
| 2011-09-19 |
| Dolores DeFina Hope, a singer, philanthropist and the wife of the late, legendary comedian Bob Hope, died Monday of natural causes at her Toluca Lake home in Los Angeles. She was 102. Born in Harlem on May 27, 1909, Dolores was singing at the Vogue Club in Manhattan under the stage name Dolores Reade when she was introduced to Hope, then a rising Broadway star. As he described it, it was “love at first song,” and they were married for nearly 70 years until his death in July 2003 at age 100. Though she accompanied her husband on many of his USO trips to entertain the troops -- usually closing the show with a touching rendition of “Silent Night” -- she put her singing career on hold to be at his side and to raise their children. But at age 83, she recorded several albums and performed with Rosemary Clooney in New York at Rainbow and Stars for several weeks. Hope made her last visit to the servicemen and servicewomen during Operation Desert Storm, performing “White Christmas” from the back of a truck in the middle of the Saudi desert. She was 84 at the time. “She was the first lady of the USO,” actress Carol Channing said. “They didn't come any more patriotic, caring or talented than Dolores.” Thanks for the memories. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 The story is told of Bob Hope that his wife Dolores asked him as he was getting nearer to passing on, where he would like to be buried. "Surprise me.', he said. |
| Posted by: Black Bart Pelosi9180 2011-09-19 21:20 |
| #1 Bob and Dolores were very special people. Rest in peace. |
| Posted by: Barbara 2011-09-19 19:53 |