Bonnie Ruth was the daughter of Frederick Charles Thatcher Slauson and Jeanne Light Caraway Slauson.
Bonnie Ruth attended Baylor University where she was named Homecoming Queen. Entering the state contest, she won the title of "Miss Texas" in 1940 to compete at the Miss America Contest, where she was runner-up.
Being noticed at the contest, she was asked to go to Hollywood for a screen test.
Returning from Hollywood soon after, she was visiting her father at the Independence, Kansas Army Air Force base when she fell ill. It was soon known that she had contracted the dreaded disease polio, which had no cure at the time. She used one of the very first iron lung machines, which was flown in just for her by Howard Hughes on his private airplane. All efforts failed, however, and Bonnie Ruth died.
Her untimely death devastated her family.
In Oakwood, her grave is marked by a bench with the inscription inviting one to sit with her because she never knew a stranger.
Bonnie Ruth attended Baylor University where she was named Homecoming Queen. Entering the state contest, she won the title of "Miss Texas" in 1940 to compete at the Miss America Contest, where she was runner-up.
Being noticed at the contest, she was asked to go to Hollywood for a screen test.
Returning from Hollywood soon after, she was visiting her father at the Independence, Kansas Army Air Force base when she fell ill. It was soon known that she had contracted the dreaded disease polio, which had no cure at the time. She used one of the very first iron lung machines, which was flown in just for her by Howard Hughes on his private airplane. All efforts failed, however, and Bonnie Ruth died.
Her untimely death devastated her family.
In Oakwood, her grave is marked by a bench with the inscription inviting one to sit with her because she never knew a stranger.
Bonnie Ruth was the daughter of Frederick Charles Thatcher Slauson and Jeanne Light Caraway Slauson.
Bonnie Ruth attended Baylor University where she was named Homecoming Queen. Entering the state contest, she won the title of "Miss Texas" in 1940 to compete at the Miss America Contest, where she was runner-up.
Being noticed at the contest, she was asked to go to Hollywood for a screen test.
Returning from Hollywood soon after, she was visiting her father at the Independence, Kansas Army Air Force base when she fell ill. It was soon known that she had contracted the dreaded disease polio, which had no cure at the time. She used one of the very first iron lung machines, which was flown in just for her by Howard Hughes on his private airplane. All efforts failed, however, and Bonnie Ruth died.
Her untimely death devastated her family.
In Oakwood, her grave is marked by a bench with the inscription inviting one to sit with her because she never knew a stranger.
Bonnie Ruth attended Baylor University where she was named Homecoming Queen. Entering the state contest, she won the title of "Miss Texas" in 1940 to compete at the Miss America Contest, where she was runner-up.
Being noticed at the contest, she was asked to go to Hollywood for a screen test.
Returning from Hollywood soon after, she was visiting her father at the Independence, Kansas Army Air Force base when she fell ill. It was soon known that she had contracted the dreaded disease polio, which had no cure at the time. She used one of the very first iron lung machines, which was flown in just for her by Howard Hughes on his private airplane. All efforts failed, however, and Bonnie Ruth died.
Her untimely death devastated her family.
In Oakwood, her grave is marked by a bench with the inscription inviting one to sit with her because she never knew a stranger.
