Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Jan. 19, 1942

She is disgruntled about the school situation; Washington mourns Carole Lombard

On a rainy day in Washington — “So glad it is rain instead of snow,” Mrs. Gunn wrote — she attended a PTA meeting at son Charles’s school. “Terrible waste of time to listen to the lecture but I learned Charles is improving in his reading.“ Then she fumed, “We can’t get our fence for the school on account of war and the politicians do nothing but talk about air raid precautions but do not do anything to help the principal.”

The U.S. Senate and President Roosevelt were paying tribute to actress Carole Lombard, who had died in a plane crash on January 16, returning home to husband Clarke Gable after a war bond tour. She was 33. Paid subscribers can read on about this talented and patriotic woman.

The photo of Gable and Lombard, released by their studio after their 1939 marriage, was accessed via wikipedia.com.