Bernadette Withers obit

 

Actress BERNADETTE WITHERS (LYNCH) Dies at 73. She was regular on Bachelor Father(with John Forsythe) and Leave it to Beaver (Wally’s girlfriend) and many more. Was niece of Jane Withers

 She was not on the list.

She was Kelly Gregg’s long-suffering best friend Ginger on “Bachelor Father” and appeared in a variety of adolescent TV guest shots.

Bernadette Withers Lynch died Friday in Texas at 73 after a brief illness.

From film historian and author James R Parish

She was a close friend of actress Kathy Garver (“Family Affair”), who wrote today on Facebook: “She was upbeat, engaging and warm. Our mothers were friends and I went with her on countless interviews when we were children.”

Withers was the niece of actress Jane Withers.

She appeared in the movies “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” and “The Trouble with Angels” and in guest roles on “Father Knows Best” and “Leave It to Beaver.” She also appeared in The Beverly Hillbillies, Going My Way, My Three Sons, It's A Man's World, All Fall Down, The Real McCoys, Shirley Temple's Storybook, Peck's Bad Girl, The Eve Arden Sho, Warner Brothers Presents, Schlitz Playhouse, TV Reader's Digest, Finger Man and Tales of Wells Fargo.

She was in the “Wally’s Glamour Girl” episode of “Beaver” as a girl returning to Mayfield after exaggerating her life status in letters to Wally Cleaver.

On “Bachelor Father,” Ginger was the only TV female character to have three different last names: Farrell, Loomis and Mitchell. Gilbert on “Beaver” was known as Bates, Harrison and Gates.

Bernadette Withers Lynch passed away early Friday morning.. A shining star that shines on in all who knew her. I was lucky…I had the pleasure of knowing her my entire life! She would love and hate the fanfare. It is hard to imagine a world without her. She was best friends with my mom…part of the best foursome I have ever known…she was family. Her infectious smile and laugh would instantly make you feel at home. Not a family holiday goes by (especially Thanksgiving) that I don’t think of her…because the best Thanksgivings growing up always included her. I consider her and her kids my family. We will miss you Bernadette…while your final curtain call has passed…the ovation continues eternally for your next performance…break a leg.

As a child Bernadette Withers began acting in small uncredited film roles, including a child at an audition in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), and parts in Stranger at My Door (1956) and All Fall Down (1962). She went on to play Valerie in The Trouble with Angels (1966).

Withers found guest starring roles in numerous television series. On Leave it to Beaver she played Kitty in Wally’s Glamour Girl (Season 4, Episode 10), and on Wagon Train she played Alma Hardy in The Jonas Murdock Story (Season 3, Episode 27). She was also in Buffalo Bill, Jr., Father Knows Best, My Three Sons, and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

From 1957 to 1962 Withers had the recurring role of Ginger, Kelly’s best friend, in Bachelor Father. During the program’s five seasons Ginger had two different sets of parents, and three last names – Farrel, Loomis and Mitchell. During the 1964 television season she had the recurring role of Janis on Karen

After her acting career ended Withers became a partner in a software company. She was married twice, and had two children. She died in Dana Point, California, on October 25, 2019.

WITHERS, Bernadette (Bernadette Joan Peters)

Born: 2/5/1946, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Died: 10/25/2019, Texas, U.S.A.

Bernadette Peters’ westerns – actress:

Buffalo Bill Jr. (TV) – 1955 (Nancy)

Stranger at My Door – 1956 (Betsy Tatum)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1958 (Jenny Benson)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1959, 1960 (Alma Hardy, Sybil Lerner)