Frances Marie Burke
Born
Frances Marie Burke

(1922-05-04)May 4, 1922[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
DiedDecember 2, 2017(2017-12-02) (aged 95)
TitleMiss Philadelphia 1940
Miss America 1940
PredecessorPatricia Donnelly
SuccessorRosemary LaPlanche
Spouse
Lawrence Kenney
​
(m. 1945)​
Children4

Frances Marie Kenney (née Burke; May 4, 1922 – December 2, 2017) was an American beauty pageant contestant who was the winner of Miss America in 1940.

Biography

Burke was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on September 7, 1940.

She competed in the pageant as Miss Philadelphia.[2]

After winning the Miss America title Burke worked as a successful model. Despite opportunities in Hollywood, she chose to stay close to her family in Philadelphia.

Burke was married to Lawrence Kenney for 72 years and had four children (Missy, Wendy, Lawrence, and William) and was the grandmother of five boys and five girls.[3][4][5]

She died at the home of her daughter on December 2, 2017, at the age of 95.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Miss America Says Sisters Prettiest". Evening Independent. 1940-09-09. p. 1. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  2. ^ "Miss America History 1940's - Decade in Review". Archived from the original on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
  3. ^ Tauber, Michelle; Neill, Mike; Russell, Lisa; Fowler, Joanne; Dam, Julie; Tresniowski, Alex; Miller, Samantha; Dougherty, Steve; Yu, Ting (October 16, 2000). "American Beauties: 80 Years". People.
  4. ^ "Miss America: 1940". Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  5. ^ "Miss America History 1939". Retrieved 2012-04-13.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Frances Burke Kenney Obituary
Preceded byPatricia Donnelly Miss America 1940 Succeeded byRosemary LaPlanche
Preceded byNancy Lee Miss Philadelphia 1940 Succeeded byCarrie de Ludo
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