Josephine Bliss

At 16, she left home to study at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London in

order to pursue a career in show business.

She traveled the world performing as a singer while entertaining the troops of the Allied forces

following the World War II, in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Burma and Malaysia.

In the 1950’s, she starred in hit West End shows in London such as “Latin Quarter;” in seasonal

pantomimes such as “Peter Pan;” in a “Royal Performance” for Queen Elizabeth II; and on

television in shows such as “Emergency Ward 10” (a UK version of “General Hospital”).

At 20, she starred at the Leeds Grand Theatre with David O’Gorman, a charismatic show

business celebrity. They married four years later.

She appeared as a stand in for Elizabeth Taylor in “Cleopatra,” but having been enthusiastically

signed up by agents, turned down her first significant screen roles to start a family with David,

and had three children by the age of 31. After the sudden death of her husband in 1964, she gave

up her promising stage and screen career to bring up her three young children as a widowed

single mother.

In 1975, she married Colonel William Bliss (RCAF, Ret’d) a WWII Spitfire pilot, and moved to

Arlington, Texas, where she became President of the Arlington Newcomer’s Club and helped

establish the Arlington Creative Arts Theater and School.

Josephine was a devoted daughter to her mother, caring for her in her last decade until she passed

away at the age of 98. Later in life, Josephine wrote children’s stories and took up painting,

becoming an accomplished artist.

Throughout her life, in everything she did, Josephine made the world a better place. She touched

and helped many lives. She was always welcoming and friendly, a radiant personality, full of

life, poised, perfectly presented, and strikingly beautiful. She was gracious, joyful, loving,

considerate and kind.

She never regretted giving up show business to bring up her family. She was a wonderful

daughter, mother, and wife, and was deeply loved by her children and her husband, all of whom

were with her when she passed away peacefully on September 10th, 2014. She was 84.

Josephine is survived by husband William (& his four children Susan, Robert, Paul, & Bliss and

her son Brendan); her first husband’s adopted son Peter & wife Rosemary (and their daughter

Ruth); and her children John, Mark & his wife Sewit (& their two children LucasBradley, and

CalumDavid), and Sara Stroud & her husband Eric (& their son Will).