This memorial website was created in the memory of actress Carole Lombard Gable.  Born Jane Alice Peters in Fort Wayne, Indiana on October 06, 1908.  She was the third child born to Elizabeth K. Peters and Frederick C. Peters.
At the tender age of six, her parents separate and her mother moves Carole and her two older brothers (Stuart and Fred Peters) to California. Leaving her Father behind. (Carole's Father Frederick, passed away at the age of 59 in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1935). Carole did not attend his funeral.


Carole was discovered by Hollywood director Allan Dwan while playing baseball with her friends. She made her first film appearance in " A PERFECT CRIME, " directed by Dwan. (1921) Her 66th and final film was "TO BE OR NOT TO BE." (1941) when the U.S. entered World War 11.  The film was not released until two months after her death in 1942. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1936 for her performance in "MY MAN GODFREY" but lost to actress Luise Rainer for "THE GREAT ZIEGFELD."

Carole married actor William "Bill" Powell on June 26, 1931. Their wedding took place at the home of  Elizabeth "Bess" Peters (Carole's Mother). Unfortunately their marriage only  lasted 26 months. Carole and Bill were divorced on Aug 16, 1933.  Shorty after her divorce from Powell, Carole dated and fell in love with singer Russ Columbo. Their relationship ended  when Russ died from an accidental gun shot wound in 1934,  leaving Carole devastated. 

Love came into Carole's life once again when she ran into her costar from the 1932 film "NO MAN OF HER OWN ,"actor Clark Gable at the MAYFAIR WHITE BALL on the evening of Jan 23, 1936.  Clark at the time was separated from his second wife Ria Langham. It was love in bloom for both of them. Thus,  Gable and Lombard began a three year love affair.

Clark wanted to marry Carole and asked Ria repeatly for a divorce, but Ria refused.  Finally, in Jan. 1939  Gable offered Ria a large sum of money for a divorce.  Ria accepted Clark's offer and in Feb. 1939  she filed for a divorce in Reno NV.  This left Clark free to marry Carole, so  the couple eloped to Kingman, AZ on March 29, 1939.  Shortly after they tied the knot, Clark and Carole moved to a ranch in Encino, CA. Carole purchased the 45 acre ranch two months prior their marriage and had the ranch house renovated . The Gable's raised New Hampshire Red Hens and later on raised doves.  According to Carole, doves were a symbol of their love for one another.

In Oct. 1941 filming began for Carole's  last motion picture, "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" with Jack Benny and Robert Stack. About three months into the  filming, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (Dec 7) and war was declared by President Roosevelt. Hollywood joined the war effort and Clark was named to one of the president's victory committees and was encouraged to go on a US defense bond selling drive. Clark did not want to sell bonds because his next film, "Somewhere I'll Find You" would began shooting in the middle of January  and proposed Carole as a better choice for the assignment. On Christmas eve of 1941 "TO BE OR NOT TO BE" completed filming. Carole considered making this her last film for the duration of the war.

On Jan 12 1942 Carole was appointed by the U.S. Treasury Department to begin a cross country War Bond Drive from Los Angeles to Indianapolis, Indiana .  MGM press agent Otto Winkler was asked by Gable to accompany Carole and her mother on the tour. Carole left Union Station on Jan. 12. The Chicago bound train made a stop in Salt Lake City Utah where she made a pitch for defense bonds. Her train arrived in Chicago on Jan 13  where Carole was introduced as the National Chairman of the defense drive. The next day Carole and Otto flew to Indianapolis. Elizabeth made a quick trip to Fort Wayne, Ind. and join Carole the next day.  Carole made her first appearance at the Indianapolis state capitol and her last public appearance for the bond drive at the Cadle Tabernacle in Indianapolis on the night of Jan 15, 1942.   Carole sold a total of 2 million in bonds.

Eager to get home to her husband Clark, Carole wanted take a plane home instead taking the train which originally was planned. Carole's mother was afraid of flying and tried to persade Carole to travel by train.   Otto tossed a coin to decide flying or taking the train. Carole called tails while the coin was still in the air and unfortunately Carole got her way.

Carole, Otto and her mother Elizabeth boarded TWA flight #3 at 4:00 AM.  Her flight was scheduled for two stops along the way. One stop in Amarrillo, Texas and other in Albuquerque, NM.  But her flight made unscheduled stop  in Las Vegas NV. to re-fuel before making the final destination into Burbank, CA.  Tragically, the plane crashed into a mountain side just shortly after take off  around 7:00 PM., killing  Carole,  her mother Elizabeth Peters  and their friend, Otto Winkler. There were a total of 22 passengers on board who perished on the ill fated Flight #3.

Carole and her mother's funeral services were held on Jan 21, 1942 at  Forrest Lawn in Glendale, CA. and both were interred in The Sanctuary of Trust Mausoleum.  Eighteen years later Clark Gable was laid to rest next Carole in Nov. of 1960.


Lombard was awarded a Medal from President Roosevelt for "The first woman to be killed in action in defense of her country in it's war against the Axis Power." 

 Actress Irene Dunne christened the Liberty ship Carole Lombard in June of 1942 which served in the Pacific theatre thoughout the duration of the war.


Please feel free to light a candle in memory of Carole  Gable and to take a few moments to view the beautiful photographs of Carole in the  photo album at the bottom of the page.  If you have any photos to contribute of Carole just click on  photo album link on the top of the page.  I will be happy to post them. Thank you very much for visiting her memorial website.