Venus Ramey - the first redhead to take Miss America crown - and who found renewed fame on Jay Leno after shooting out tires of two burglars, dies aged 92

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Venus Ramey, a former Miss America who helped rally the nation during World War II and found renewed fame later in life by shooting out the tires of intruders at her Kentucky farm, has died. She was 92.

The 1944 Miss America died Saturday, according to the Morris and Hislope Funeral Home in Science Hill, Kentucky.

Ramey was the first redhead to win the Miss America title and the first to be photographed in color. A vaudevillian who could sing, dance, and perform comedy routines, her talent as well as her wholesome looks helped her win the title. 

After winning the crown at 19, she embarked on a vaudeville tour and sold $5million in war bonds. Her likeness also graced a B-17 that made 68 raids over Germany and other Nazi-occupied nations.

Venus Ramey, 82, winner of the Miss America pageant in 1944 as the contestant representing Washington, D.C., poses for a photograph near her home in Waynesburg, Kentucky in 2007

Crowned Miss America in 1944, Venus Ramey turned down Hollywood so she could help the war effort 

After being crowned the first redheaded Miss America, Venus looks out over some fans in Atlantic City

Venus Ramey, 19, after she was selected to represent the District of Columbia in the Miss America pageant as Miss Washington, D.C., poses with her crown, bouquet of roses and sash in Washington in August 1944

In 2007, at age 82, she again made national headlines when she shot out the tires of two thieves on her property while balancing on her walker so she could hold them until cops arrived. The derring-do landed her a spot on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. 

Born in Ashland, she was the granddaughter of a state senator and daughter of a state representative, according to an archived page from the Miss America website. 

She represented Washington, D.C., where she lived at the time, in the Miss America pageant and captured the title in Atlantic City.

In 2007, the feisty 82 year old went on Jay Leno to tell how she shot out the tires of two intruders on her farm. 'I'm from Kentucky' she said when asked where she'd learned to shoot

Ramey was married with two sons and ran a Kentucky tobacco farm for 50 years.

'Venus was a revolutionary Miss America who lived a full life, cared deeply about her country and our military, and utilized her influence for the good of our nation,' said Josh Randle, president of the Miss America Organization. 'Venus will be greatly missed by the Miss America family, and our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones.'

Kenny Upchurch, a retired sheriff's officer in Kentucky, befriended Ramey after she won the title, but they never talked about it, or her experiences on behalf of the war effort. Rather, he said, they would chat about local concerns at the post office when she came to pick up her mail.

Venus, selected to represent the District of Columbia in the Miss America pageant as Miss Washington, D.C., performs in the talent show part of the competition before she was crowned that year's Miss America pageant winner in Atlantic City on September 9, 1944

'She was a great American,' he said. 'She loved animals. A lot of people would drop stray animals off, and she would take care of them. She was just a very kind and caring person.' 

Although she was offered movie contracts, Ramey agreed to go on a 55-city tour of the country selling war bonds for the U.S. Treasury, which honored her for eventually selling $5million worth.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, left, buys a $100 war bond from Venus Ramey on October 18, 1944

She also inspired the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that rained explosives on the enemy in Germany, Italy and France during the war. Her image was stenciled onto the side of the bomber.

Ramey also took up political activism, working with U.S. senators and representatives on voting rights for Washington, D.C., and for women's rights.

Venus Ramey, 82, winner of the Miss America pageant in 1944 as the contestant representing Washington, D.C., walks with her dogs near her property in Waynesburg. A friend said she 'loved animals' and would take care of strays

She made renewed headlines at age 82 when she shot out the tires of some intruders who drove onto her farm in Waynesburg, Kentucky, and tried to rob a shed where some tools had previously been stolen.

When the would-be thieves tried to leave, she balanced on her walker and sent bullets from her snub-nosed .38-caliber flying into their tires and detained them until the authorities arrived. The exploit earned her an appearance on 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno.

'I didn't even think twice. I just went and did it,' she said. 'If they'd even dared come close to me, they'd be six feet under by now. I'm trying to live a quiet, peaceful life and stay out of trouble, and all it is, is one thing after another.'

When asked how she learned to shoot, she replied, 'I'm from Kentucky.' 

Venus Ramey Murphy, of Stanford, Kentucky, poses for a photograph to coincide with her return to Atlantic City, N.J., to serve as a judge of the competition in 1954