Bess Truman

**Elizabeth Virginia Wallace Truman** (February 13, 1885 – October 18, 1982) was the first lady of the United States from 1945 to 1953 as the wife of the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman. Before becoming first lady, she was the second lady of the United States from January to April 1945 when her husband was vice president.

### Early life and education

Elizabeth Virginia Wallace was born on February 13, 1885, in Independence, Missouri, to Margaret Elizabeth Gates and David Willock Wallace. As a child, Bess had a reputation as a tomboy due in part to her love for sports, including golf, tennis, horseback riding, basketball, baseball, and ice skating. She practiced dance and etiquette, and she attended town balls.

In 1903, when Wallace was 18, her father committed suicide. The family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a year to avoid the community's attention. After her father's death, Wallace took responsibility for raising her younger brothers, and the family moved in with her maternal grandparents. She refused to speak about her father for the rest of her life.

After graduating from Independence High School, she studied at Miss Barstow's Finishing School for Girls in Kansas City, Missouri. Wallace played on the women's basketball team, and she studied literature and French. After returning from school, she resumed her role as the head of the family, and she became involved with the community through her bridge club and her charity work with the Needlework Guild.

### Marriage and family

Wallace met Harry S. Truman after his family moved to Independence in 1890, and the two attended school together until graduation.

They got married on June 28, 1919, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Independence.  Their only child, Margaret Truman, was born in 1924.

## First Lady, 1945–1953

Truman became the first lady of the United States when her husband became the 33rd president on April 12, 1945, after Franklin D. Roosevelt died while in office. As first lady, Truman served as Honorary President of the Girl Scouts, the Woman's National Democratic Club, and the Washington Animal Rescue League. She was Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross. She worked with various organizations, but she never adopted a group or cause to focus on, as many first ladies do.

After the end of World War II, Truman was responsible for restoring the White House social season, and she organized the White House's receptions and events. She was inspired by the history of the White House in particular during the presidency of James Monroe.

She resisted any changes to her lifestyle, often handling bookkeeping, dusting, and other chores on her own, though she did enjoy having domestic servants. Truman also allowed reporters to have copies of her schedule, becoming the first first lady to do so.

## Death and funeral

Truman died on October 18, 1982, from congestive heart failure at the age of 97, and a private funeral service was held on October 21. Afterwards, she was buried beside her husband in the courtyard of the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, Missouri.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Bess Truman
- **image**: Bess Truman cropped.jpg
- **caption**: Portrait,
- **president**: Harry S. Truman
- **term start**: April 12, 1945
- **term end**: January 20, 1953
- **term label**: In role
- **predecessor**: Eleanor Roosevelt
- **successor**: Mamie Eisenhower
- **vicepresident1**: Harry S. Truman
- **term start1**: January 20, 1945
- **term end1**: April 12, 1945
- **term label1**: In role
- **predecessor1**: Ilo Wallace
- **successor1**: Jane Hadley Barkley
- **birth name**: Elizabeth Virginia Wallace
- **birth place**: Independence, Missouri, U.S.
- **death place**: Independence, Missouri, U.S.
- **restingplace**: Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
- **party**: Democratic Party (United States), Democratic
- **children**: Margaret Truman
- **signature**: Bess Truman Signature.svg
- **title1**: Second Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States, Second Lady of the United States
- **title**: First Lady of the United States