Alice White Irwin was born in Keokuk, Iowa on Dec. 21, 1872 and died in St. Louis, Missouri on Jan. 22, 1954. Alice and her siblings were able to travel beyond the environs of Keokuk, thanks to the political career of her father, John N. Irwin, and to family wealth obtained from the Irwin-Phillips dry goods store. This travel included a visit to Arizona in 1891 while her father was Territorial Governor, and travel shortly after that with her sister Elizabeth to a boarding school in Washington, Pennsylvania. Then in 1899 Alice and her family briefly lived in Lisbon, Portugal while Alice's father was the U. S. Minister there. John's wife Mary, Alice, and her sister Elizabeth were "presented to the Court" while in Portugal. Rolla Martin (R. M.) Kendrick had traveled to Europe in the hopes of marrying Alice in Paris, however, his intentions were frustrated by red tape. Thus, on June 27, 1900, Alice married R. M. in New York City, following the Irwin family's return from Europe. After their marriage, Alice and R. M. lived in the St. Louis, Missouri area, where for over 30 years they owned a house at 207 N. Elizabeth Ave., Ferguson, MO. This Ferguson residence was shared by their daughter, later her daughter's husband, and eventually their son (Alice and R.M.'s grandson). In 1939, the then three-generation family of five moved to 6345 Westminster Place, University City (just a block outside the St. Louis city limits), where R. M. and Alice lived up to their respective deaths. Alice (affectionately called "Gangang" by her only grandson at an early age) was a very loving and sociable person, with many interests and hobbies. Particularly remembered was her broad literary knowledge from extensive book reading, her skill and patience with embroidery work, and her ability to strike up a conversation with anyone at any time. R. M. and Alice produced two daughters, Mary Stephanie (who lived to be almost 93 years old) and Sarah Ann (who died stillborn in 1908).
Missouri death certificate #2966: died Missouri Baptist Hospital, usual residence University City, MO; widowed, age 81, parents John Nichol Irwin & Mary Love Rankin, spouse Rolla Martin Kendrick, informant John Francis McDermott of University City. Cause of death cerebral embolism, cremation January 25, 1954.