A writer who made us laugh... and cry with the power of her words, beloved humorist Erma Bombeck (1927-1996) was born Erma Louise Fiste on this day in Dayton, Ohio. An English major at the University of Dayton, she wrote her first column in 1964 after raising her family.

"It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else," the journalist said.

A genius who captured the poignant truth of life's common experiences, Bombeck wrote over 4,000 columns in over 700 newspapers around the country. The author of at least 12 best-selling books, she was a regular on ABC's Good Morning, America for 12 years.

"All of us have moments in our lives that test our courage," she wrote. "Taking children into a house with white carpet is one of them."

With passion, Bombeck shared her heart. "I spend 90% of my time living the scripts and 10% writing them," she explained. Even fighting breast cancer or kidney failure, she used humor to cope and celebrate life.

In eloquent tribute, television host Phil Donahue said, "We shall never see the likes of her again. She was real and she brought us down to earth--gently, generously, and with brilliant humor."

Bombeck once said, "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'"

Erma has nothing to worry about from God.

Visit Erma Bombeck Museum

Enter and exit laughing.