10/30/32 – 08/16/22
Alice Guion Wirth passed away peaceful in her bed the morning of August 16th, 2022 cozy and restful, surrounded by many happy and some heirloom multi-generational family photos.
Alice was born Alice Guion Ardrey in New York City to her late parents Rushton Leigh Ardrey and Elizabeth Wolfe Ardrey. When she was seven, the family moved to Dallas, TX. The Ardrey ancestors were early pioneers of that state.
Alice attended The Hockaday School in Dallas and went on to attend The Ethel Walkers School in Simsbury, CT and Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She returned to Dallas to teach at The Dallas Country Day School and received her BA with Honors from Southern Methodist University (S.M.U).
In her early career, Alice worked in the casting department of CBS-TV in New York City, NY when the live program and Emmy Award nominated show “Studio One” was launched.
In 1958 she married Russell D.L. Wirth Jr. of Milwaukee, WI an underwriter with Blyth & Co. in New York City who had previously served as 2nd Lieutenant, US Marine Corps Reserve, Korea, 1951-53: Decorated Bronze Star, Silver Star, Purple Heart, UN Korean War medal and Presidential unit citation. The couple then moved to Washington, D.C. where Russell worked in the formative years at the headquarters of the US government Agency for International Development (A.I.D.) From there, in 1961 with their 1-year-old daughter Mary-Elizabeth, they moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for several years to continue this same investment work internationally. Upon returning in 1963, their son Russell III was born, and the family settled in Greenwich, CT.
In 1970, the couple divorced, and Alice returned to teaching. Along with The Hensen Family and others, Alice helped found The Mead School in Stamford, CT, a visionary and progressive K-8th grade educational institution. She taught for 8 years as Head of a Learning Center and Head of Creative Dramatics. Alice was active in community theatre and volunteered for the Red Cross. Additionally, she attended Christ Church Greenwich, CT where she taught Sunday School, was on the Vestry, and became a lay reader participating in services.
While raising her children, Alice made a career change and earned her MS Degree in Family Counseling at Bridgeport University in CT. She later earned the M.P.S. Degree in Pastoral Counseling at New York Theological Seminary and a Certificate of Training from The Foundation for Mental Health, New York. She was a member of both the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
Alice was in private practice as a marriage and family therapist in Stamford, CT for many years before moving, in 1997, to Marin County, CA to be near her family and enjoy being a grandmother. While living in Marin, she taught English as a second language, was active in The Daughters of the American Revolution and at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ross, CA.
Alice is survived by her daughter Mary-Elizabeth Wirth, her son Russell D.L. Wirth III, her daughter-in-law, Eve A.R. Wirth, as well as her two beloved grandsons Russell A.S. Wirth and Spencer A.K. Wirth all of Mill Valley, CA. She is predeceased by her brother Rushton L. Ardrey Jr. previously of Fairfield, CT. She is also survived by her brother James S. Ardrey of Boca Raton, FL. and her sister Elizabeth Ardrey Wilson of Bethesda, MD. She is additionally survived by two nieces, five nephews, six great-nieces and eight great-nephews. Alice Guion Wirth lived a dedicated and full life filled with family, faith and love.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ross, CA.
