Peggy A. Newman

Peggy A. Newman, 87, of Bella Vista, passed away Saturday, Aug. 18th, 2018 from complications following a heart attack. She was born Jan. 4, 1931 in Kewanee, Ill. After she graduated from high school in Toulon, Ill., she left for Chicago to attend the Patricia Stevens Modeling School, and was a model in the Chicago area for a short time. She also worked in the Lyle R. Jager Insurance Agency in Kewanee until leaving for Los Angeles in the early 1950's. Once in Los Angeles, she found a job with an agent who sold insurance to the stars. Newman helped him entertain his clients by serving as a hostess at his star-studded events. "Jack Benny used to call the insurance agency," she said, and she knew him by his distinctive voice. In her free time in Hollywood, Peggy knew what it was like to be among the stars. She was a hostess for many celebrity events, including two popular clubs in Hollywood. At the Masquers, Newman met some of the top stars of the era: Gene Autry, Bob Hope, Mel Blanc, Don Knotts, George Burns and Johnny Carson. She was the first woman to join the all-men's club. Another club where Newman worked was the Magic Castle, a magic academy and restaurant, where many up-and-coming magicians performed. Newman was also a docent at the Gene Autry Museum, and hostess of many Autry celebrity parties. The love of her life was actor and producer Henry Wilcoxon. They dated until his death in the early 1970's. Peggy worked for many years and retired from Glendale Federal Savings & Loan in Glendale, Calif. One of her favorite stars is Tippi Hedren, who starred in "The Birds". Newman helped Hedren raise funds to support Hedren's Shambala Preserve until Peggy moved to Bella Vista to retire in 1990. Once in Arkansas, Newman put her hostess skills to work by helping with the Phillips Classic events in Bella Vista. She was hostess to actors Denver Pyle, Dale Robertson, Richard Anderson, Billy Barty and Buddy Rogers. She also volunteered with the Village Players and the Salvation Army Doll Project. Survivors include nephew, Mike Huffman of West Allis, Wis., cousin, Janice Talbot of Toulon, Ill., sister-in-law, JoAnn Kilpatrick of Tulsa, Okla., uncle, Harry Weiss of Los Angeles, Calif. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister and brother-in-law, Delores and Glenn Huffman, her brother Don Newman, and her aunt Helen Weiss. Interment will be at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills. There will not be a memorial service, but anyone wishing to make a memorial donation can send it to the Shambala Preserve, 6867 Soledad Canyon Road, Acton, Calif. 93510, PH: 661-268-0380. Arrangements are provided by Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.