Virginia Patton, Actress in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ Dies at 97

Virginia Patton, who portrayed Ruth Dakin Bailey, the sister-in-law of

Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey, in the Frank Capra holiday classic

It’s a Wonderful Life, has died. She was 97. Patton died Thursday at

an assisted living facility in Albany, Georgia, the Mathews Funeral

Home announced.Patton’s character in the 1946 film was married to

Harry Bailey (Todd Karns), and her big scene takes place at the

Bedford Falls train station, when she meets George and Uncle Billy for the first time.