Barbara Sinatra, founder of the Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children, former model, and wife of the late Frank Sinatra passed away today in Rancho Mirage, California, she was 90 years old.
Mrs. Sinatra died of natural causes at her home in Palm Springs, according to a family spokesman.
Born Barbara Blakeley in Bosworth, Missouri, her father Willis owned Blakeley’s General Store on Bosworth’s Main Street. At age 18 her family moved to Long Beach, California and shortly thereafter Barbara married Robert Oliver and began her modeling career. Following a divorce to Oliver, Barbara married Zeppo Marx in 1959 in Las Vegas and they settled in Palm Springs. Barbara became Frank Sinatra’s fourth and last wife in a private ceremony at the Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage in July of 1976.
She was an active advocate for victims of childhood abuse and served as the Founder and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the non-profit Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, which has provided therapy for more than 20,000 children.
Mrs. Sinatra is survived by her son Robert Oliver Marx; his wife Hillary Roberts; and her grand-daughter Carina Blakeley Marx.
