Betty White's shoulder bag is a time capsule of World War II
3 days ago
- #World War II
- #Betty White
- #American Women’s Voluntary Services
- Betty White passed away on December 31, 2021, at 99 years old, just weeks before her 100th birthday.
- She served in the American Women’s Voluntary Services (AWVS) during World War II, driving a PX truck and participating in social events with servicemen.
- The museum acquired her AWVS uniform and a shoulder bag filled with wartime artifacts, including military insignia, ration books, and personal mementos.
- White collected souvenirs from servicemen, including patches, pins, and personal notes, reflecting her interactions during the war.
- The bag contained items from her fiancé, Captain Paul M. Popple, and her first husband, P-38 fighter pilot Frederick R. 'Dick' Barker.
- A small bifold with photos of Captain Wayne L. Daniel, signed with a loving note, hints at another wartime relationship.
- After the war, White pursued a career in show business and married television personality Allen Ludden.
- The artifacts serve as a time capsule of White's wartime experiences and the broader home-front efforts during WWII.