Bonnie Baldwin

Born: August 19, 1924 Died: July 30, 2008 US singer and yodeller. A native of Coolville, Ohio, to the river town of Bridgeport, across the Ohio River from the city of Wheeling. Joined forces with the WWVA group known as the Chuckwagon Gang led by Joe and Shirley Barker. Later became part of a duet with another young lady known as Millie Wayne, a sister (or perhaps half sister) of Calvin "Curley" Miller who led another Jamboree group. Married a man named Benjamin R. Peters (on December 28, 1942 in Belmont, Ohio) who (born in Wheeling, WV) hailed from Monroe County, Ohio, several miles downriver from Bridgeport. The couple had a daughter Shirley Jean. Ruth always used her nickname "Bonnie" on radio. Bonnie and Millie became known as the Radio Rangerettes and were quite popular, especially during the war years. The two also did solo work on WWVA as well. Her regular Jamboree years extended from 1943 until 1960, and sporadically thereafter. Millie left WWVA in 1952, but remained friends with Bonnie and a decade or so later they recorded an album together on Norman Kelly's Country Star label. Bonnie did deejay work at WMOD Moundsville, West Virginia, south of Wheeling and also hosted a children's TV program in Steubenville where she sang between showing cartoons. She recorded a number of 78 and 45 rpm singles over the years. One single came out on the King label in 1969. Was active on the club scene well into the 1980s; David Allen Coe who later had several major hits was once a member of her band. Appeared at numerous Jamboree Reunion shows over the years.