Dolores Hope dies at 102

Dolores Hope has died, aged an almighty 102. Hope, a singer and the widow of entertainment legend Bob Hope, passed away from natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, eight years after her husband died, aged 100.

Bob and Dolores Hope were married in 1934, and she would often take part in his shows for U.S. troops and his television specials. In 2009, Hope reportedly appeared in good health at her 100th birthday. As she said at the time, “I thought it was going to be just another birthday.”

Dolores Hope met her husband in 1933, after a friend of the comic, George Murphy, persuaded him to visit the Vogue Club during a break from performing his first Broadway show, ‘Roberta.’ It was there that Bob first set eyes on one Dolores Reade, a honey-voiced songstress who sung “It’s Only a Paper Moon.”

Hope was instantly mesmerized, and would return to the club every night. He was soon escorting her to her hotel after her shows. When they tied the knot in 1934, Dolores joined her husband’s vaudeville act.

Tributes have already started pouring in for the singer. Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said, “Both the entertainment world and the church have lost a woman of profound faith, gifted musical talent and dedication. The death of Dolores Hope leaves a huge void in Southern California.”

Meanwhile, Rip Taylor reflected on “a wonderful singer,” noting that her and Bob were “always laughing.”