Pamela Archer: What happened to Audie Murphy’s wife?

Pamela Archer is the wife of Audie Murphy. Pamela Archer’s husband was an American soldier, actor, songwriter, and rancher. He was one of the most decorated American combat soldiers during World War II. For his contribution, he received every military combat award for valor available from the U.S. Army and French and Belgian awards for heroism. As an actor, he has appeared in more than 50 films including Gunsmoke, To Hell and Back, Gunfight at Comanche Creek, and A Time for Dying.

Pamela Archer: Bio Summary

Who was Audie Murphy’s wife?

Pamela Archer was born on October 07, 1923, in Kansas, United States of America to her parents Elmer Harrison Archer and Martha M. Burgess. Pamela Archer was an airline stewardess and an Army Nurse. According to her Obituary, she spent more than thirty years working as a patient liaison at the Sepulveda Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Pam remained working full-time at the VA until 2007 when she was eighty-four.

Her work in the hospital has been praised by many. “Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy,” said veteran Stephen Sherman, who spoke for thousands of veterans Audie Murphy’s wife befriended over the years. “Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor’s office. She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn’t matter to Mrs. Murphy. “Only her boys mattered. She was our angel.” She treated every veteran who visited the facility as if they were a VIP.

Audie Murphy and Pamela Archer’s marriage

Murphy and Archer got married on 23 Apr 1951 in Dallas, Texas, United States. This was four days after the WWII veteran called his marriage to actress Wanda Hendrix quit in 1951. Murphy and Hendrix tied the knot in 1949 and ended it two years later.

Audie Murphy and Pamela Archer’s marriage was blessed with two sons: Terry Michael Murphy (born 14 March 1952), and James Shannon Murphy (born 1954). As from being an actor, Murphy bred quarter horses at the Audie Murphy Ranch in what is now Menifee, California, and the Murphy Ranch in Pima County, Arizona.

ALSO, READ; Terrance Michael Murphy; Audie Murphy’s son

His horses raced at the Del Mar Racetrack and gambled large sums of money in the hobby which left his finances in a poor state. Despite his financial difficulties, the WWII veteran refused to appear in commercials for alcohol and cigarettes because of the influence he would have on the youths who looked up to him.

On 28 May 1971, Pamela Archer’s husband, Audie Murphy died broke in a plane crash in 1971 at the age of 45. The pilot and four other passengers were also killed in the crash. Pam went from a comfortable ranch-style home in Van Nuys to taking a clerk’s job at the nearby VA to support herself and start paying off her late husband’s debts. she remained employed for 35 years.

ALSO, READ; James Shannon Murphy: What happened to Audie Murphy’s son?

What happened to Audie Murphy’s wife?

Pamela Opal Lee Archer the widow of WWII hero and actor, Audie Murphy, died peacefully at her home in Canoga Park, Los Angeles County, California, USA on April 8, 2010, at the age of 85. According to her Find A Grave profile, she was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States.

In 1975, a court awarded Pamela Archer, and their two children $2.5 million in damages because of the Murphy’s accident. On 7 June 1971, Audie Murphy was laid to rest with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.