Barbara was born in 1925 in Minnesota. In 1929, the family moved to 248 Vine Street in Hammond, Indiana, with her father, Roy, employed as a mill foreman at Inland Steel in nearby East Chicago. She attended Hammond's public schools, including Kenwood, Washington and Edison.
During the Second World War, Barbara reportedly corresponded with 31 different boyfriends in the army and navy, signing each letter "with love." She was elected "honorary sweetheart" of a flight squadron in Texas, and even had a combat plane named in her honor. By then, her nickname was "Queenie."
In 1945, Barbara was employed as a music librarian at radio station WJOB in Hammond. Also employed there at the time was Jean Shepherd, later known as the creator of the iconic movie "A Christmas Story," a semi-autobiographical account of Depression-era Hammond.
Shepherd fell for his attractive WJOB co-worker. On March 29, 1947, they were married by the Reverend Ralph Wilbur Frost of Hessville's (a section of Hammond) First United Presbyterian Church.
Several months before his marriage to Barbara, Shepherd had moved to Covington, Kentucky, and began broadcasting at radio station WSAI in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. Barbara joined him in Covington, having left her job at radio station WTOD in Toledo, where Shepherd had also worked toward the end of the previous year (1946).
The marriage did not last long. On June 14, 1948, they were granted a Kentucky divorce. More than a decade later, Barbara would remarry in Los Angeles, to Hugh M. Stevenson, with whom she would have a daughter. Sadly, Barbara died young.
During the Second World War, Barbara reportedly corresponded with 31 different boyfriends in the army and navy, signing each letter "with love." She was elected "honorary sweetheart" of a flight squadron in Texas, and even had a combat plane named in her honor. By then, her nickname was "Queenie."
In 1945, Barbara was employed as a music librarian at radio station WJOB in Hammond. Also employed there at the time was Jean Shepherd, later known as the creator of the iconic movie "A Christmas Story," a semi-autobiographical account of Depression-era Hammond.
Shepherd fell for his attractive WJOB co-worker. On March 29, 1947, they were married by the Reverend Ralph Wilbur Frost of Hessville's (a section of Hammond) First United Presbyterian Church.
Several months before his marriage to Barbara, Shepherd had moved to Covington, Kentucky, and began broadcasting at radio station WSAI in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. Barbara joined him in Covington, having left her job at radio station WTOD in Toledo, where Shepherd had also worked toward the end of the previous year (1946).
The marriage did not last long. On June 14, 1948, they were granted a Kentucky divorce. More than a decade later, Barbara would remarry in Los Angeles, to Hugh M. Stevenson, with whom she would have a daughter. Sadly, Barbara died young.
Barbara was born in 1925 in Minnesota. In 1929, the family moved to 248 Vine Street in Hammond, Indiana, with her father, Roy, employed as a mill foreman at Inland Steel in nearby East Chicago. She attended Hammond's public schools, including Kenwood, Washington and Edison.
During the Second World War, Barbara reportedly corresponded with 31 different boyfriends in the army and navy, signing each letter "with love." She was elected "honorary sweetheart" of a flight squadron in Texas, and even had a combat plane named in her honor. By then, her nickname was "Queenie."
In 1945, Barbara was employed as a music librarian at radio station WJOB in Hammond. Also employed there at the time was Jean Shepherd, later known as the creator of the iconic movie "A Christmas Story," a semi-autobiographical account of Depression-era Hammond.
Shepherd fell for his attractive WJOB co-worker. On March 29, 1947, they were married by the Reverend Ralph Wilbur Frost of Hessville's (a section of Hammond) First United Presbyterian Church.
Several months before his marriage to Barbara, Shepherd had moved to Covington, Kentucky, and began broadcasting at radio station WSAI in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. Barbara joined him in Covington, having left her job at radio station WTOD in Toledo, where Shepherd had also worked toward the end of the previous year (1946).
The marriage did not last long. On June 14, 1948, they were granted a Kentucky divorce. More than a decade later, Barbara would remarry in Los Angeles, to Hugh M. Stevenson, with whom she would have a daughter. Sadly, Barbara died young.
During the Second World War, Barbara reportedly corresponded with 31 different boyfriends in the army and navy, signing each letter "with love." She was elected "honorary sweetheart" of a flight squadron in Texas, and even had a combat plane named in her honor. By then, her nickname was "Queenie."
In 1945, Barbara was employed as a music librarian at radio station WJOB in Hammond. Also employed there at the time was Jean Shepherd, later known as the creator of the iconic movie "A Christmas Story," a semi-autobiographical account of Depression-era Hammond.
Shepherd fell for his attractive WJOB co-worker. On March 29, 1947, they were married by the Reverend Ralph Wilbur Frost of Hessville's (a section of Hammond) First United Presbyterian Church.
Several months before his marriage to Barbara, Shepherd had moved to Covington, Kentucky, and began broadcasting at radio station WSAI in nearby Cincinnati, Ohio. Barbara joined him in Covington, having left her job at radio station WTOD in Toledo, where Shepherd had also worked toward the end of the previous year (1946).
The marriage did not last long. On June 14, 1948, they were granted a Kentucky divorce. More than a decade later, Barbara would remarry in Los Angeles, to Hugh M. Stevenson, with whom she would have a daughter. Sadly, Barbara died young.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon memorials in:
- Forest Lawn Memorial Park Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
- Hollywood Hills Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
- Los Angeles County Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
- California Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
- USA Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
- Find a Grave Shepherd Stevenson or Mattoon
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
