Q: Could you tell me what happened to Spring Byington?
—Harv Fridley-Gillette, Wyo.
The Broadway, film and television actress, most famous for her starring role as wise but often scatterbrained mother-in-law Lily Ruskin in the 1954-1959 sitcom December Bride, died of cancer in 1971 at age 84 and donated her body to medical science. The native of Colorado Springs, Colo., had two daughters. She was equally at ease portraying homey matriarchs, uppity socialites and eccentric matrons. Among her many film credits were Little Women, You Can't Take It With You, Heaven Can Wait and Please Don't Eat the Daisies.
