"Grapes of Wrath" Actress Shirley Mills Leaves Us
by Fred T. Beeman

Shirley Olivia Mills Hanson, 83, the former child actress who played the part of Ruthie Joad in director John Ford's classic 1940 film, "The Grapes of Wrath" (and in a couple of movies with then-moppet Shirley Temple) passed away March 31, 2010, due to complications from pneumonia at a nursing care facility in Arcadia, California, according to a spokesperson for her family.

Mrs. Hanson (who acted, danced and modeled under her maiden name of Shirley Mills) was born April 8, 1926, in Tacoma, Wash., then moved with her family to the Los Angeles area in 1937 to begin her career as an actress (at age 11). Her final performance was on February 1, 1956, when she appeared in an episode titled, "The Day Lincoln Was Shot," which was part of the TV series, "Ford Star Jubilee."

Following her show business career, she became a female trailblazer of sorts, selling data-processing services during the 1960s, becoming the first woman president of the Data Processing Management Association, in Los Angeles.

She went on to further distinguish herself as vice president of marketing and public relations for Management Applied Programming, a large data processing facility, in which she also created a division devoted to assisting non-profit organizations. She was also known for having a wedding planning company called, "A Party for All Seasons."

Her husband, Mel Hanson, whom she married in 1977; died in a car accident in 1994.

Our condolences and sympathies are extended to her surviving family members, her fans and many others whose lives she touched.