Actress Virginia Patton has died at the age of 97.
The star was the last surviving adult star from 1946 hit film It's A Wonderful Life. She was confirmed to have died on August 18 in Albany, Georgia, at an assisted living facility.
Her death was announced by the Mathews Funeral Home, who listed her passing on their obituaries.
Virginia starred as Ruth Dakin Bailey on the film. She was the sister-in-law of Jimmy Stewart's character George Bailey and will be best remembered for the scene in which she meets George and Uncle Billy (played by Thomas Mitchell) for the first time at the train station.
Her co-star Karolyn Grimes, who starred on the film as a child actor, took to her own Facebook page to share a tribute following the news. She wrote: "We have another angel! Virginia Patton Moss. She was 97 years old. She is now with her beloved Cruse. She will be missed!"
As well as It's A Wonderful Life, Virginia starred in four other films before retiring from acting in 1949. Her last credited production was in The Lucky Stiff.
She left the acting world behind to raise a family, having three kids. She started a new career as a businesswomen after stepping away from the limelight.
On Twitter, fans also took time to pay tribute to the star. One user wrote: "We are saddened to hear of Virginia Patton Moss’ passing. She played Ruth Dakin Bailey (Harry’s wife) in ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."
Another penned: "Remembering Virginia Patton Moss (1925 - 2022), actress who played Harry Bailey's wife Ruth in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
"She retired from acting in the late '40s to raise her family w/ her husband, who she was married to from '49 until he passed away in 2018."
And a third said: "Farewell, Virginia Patton Moss. You will be missed."
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