Actress. She is best remembered for her reoccurring portrayal of Thelma, the original owner of the Dew Drop Inn, on the sitcom "The Waltons." Born Dorothy Sims, she began her career as a professional singer with the Martin Gould Orchestra. After succeeding with her first hit single with Columbia Records per her 1947 recording of "Feudin' and a Fightin'," she was introduced to director Charles Lamont while attending a luncheon at the prestigious Frank and Musso's Grille. Impressed by her dark good looks, slim physique, and distinctive voice, he took notice of her potential and arranged for her to begin a newfound career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision per a leading role in "Comin' Round the Mountain" (1951). From there, she would go on to flourish as a notable character actress appearing in 15 features; often typecast as wives, love interests, widows, educators, white-collared workers, nurses, secretaries, aristocrats, businesswomen, and matriarchs. She appeared in such feature films as "The World's Greatest Athlete" (1973) and "Mixed Company" (1973). On television, she appeared in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Matinee Theatre," "The Red Skelton Hour," "The Virginian," "Adam-12," "Days of Our Lives," "The Brady Bunch," "Room 222," "Starsky and Hutch," and "Police Woman." During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a regular parishioner of the Baptist church, was a member of the Hollywood Republican Committee, had performed at the inaugural ball for Dwight Eisenhower, was the first female vocalist to have a number one album on the Billboard Chart, was dubbed as being "The Park Avenue Hillbilly" per gossip columnist Louella Parsons, had been a vocal instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been a regular performer on the Spike Jones Radio Show, recorded two solo albums, and she was married to musician Dick Looman from 1958 to 1959 (their union ended in divorce and produced no children).