Jean Dinning, R. I. P.

NYTimes.com: Jean Dinning, who wrote the hit high school tragedy song “Teen Angel,”died here on Feb. 22. She was 86.

Her death was confirmed by her daughter Cynthia Wygal, The Orange County Register said.

Ms. Dinning’s younger brother Mark performed “Teen Angel,” which is about an untimely death. A couple’s car stalls on railroad tracks and they safely get out, but the girl runs back to get the boy’s high school class ring and a train hits the car. The song was released in October 1959 and became an instant hit.

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In the 1930s and ’40s, Ms. Dinning performed with her sisters as The Dinning Sisters, making records and appearing on the radio and in the movies. Their biggest hit was the song “Buttons and Bows” from the film “The Paleface,” starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell.

Hat tip to Jeff Meyerson.