ROSIE THE RIVETER: Geraldine Hoff Doyle, Dead at 86 [PHOTOS]

The Original Rosie the Riveter, Geraldine Hoff Doyle

The woman behind the inspiration for the WWII poster “We Can Do It.” a.k.a. Rosie the Riveter, has died at the age of 86.

Geraldine Hoff Doyle died from complications of severe arthritis. She died on December 26, 2010 at a hospice in Lansing, Michigan.

How the Rosie the Riveter poster came to be was that in 1942, a photographer representing United Press International came to the metal factory where Geraldine Hoff Doyle worked (for only two weeks!) and loved her subtle beauty. She wore a red and white polka dot scarf as she worked. The photo ended up being the inspiration for the Rosie the Riveter poster, made by artist J. Howard Miller.

Geraldine Hoff Doyle had no idea that SHE was the inspiration for Rosie the Riveter until the early 1980′s when an article linking her UPI photo and the Rosie poster was published.

[See the original Geraldine Hoff Doyle/ Rosie the Riveter UPI photo to the right]

Geraldine Hoff Doyle’s daughter Stephanie says that her mother did not have the muscular arms that Rosie the Riveter had. She says her mother was thin and quite tall. “She didn’t have big, muscular arm. She was 5-foot-10 and very slender. She was a glamour girl. The arched eyebrows, the beautiful lips, the shape of the face, that’s her.”

Geraldine Hoff Doyle was married to Leo Doyle for 66-years. He died earlier this year. Geraldine is survivied by four children, one son proceeds her in death. She had 18 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Rest in peace, girlfriend!