by Roma Dove

Alice Lydia Crosby was born October 10, 1897, at Canandaigua, New York. At the age of six she was placed in the Ontario Orphan Asylum by her mother who promised to visit and to write to her. No visits were ever made. The only letter Alice received became lost over time.

On October 9, 1908, Alice was referred to the Children's Aid Society by the Superintendent of the Poor in the Ontario area. No information concerning her parent's names, ages, religion, or occupation was provided by the Ontario Orphan Society, so little was known about her background. The orphan asylum also did not disclose that Alice's mother was alive or that Alice had a brother and an uncle living in upstate New York.

Eleven days later (October 20, 1908), she was placed on a train with other orphaned or abandoned children for a trip to the Midwest. A wealthy English family at Palmyra, Nebraska, took Alice into their home for a short time. The placement was not satisfactory. She was then placed with the George Blair family and the Henry Plattner family at Sabetha, Kansas, for short periods of time.

In March 1910, Alice was placed with the William Wittmer family near Oneida, Kansas. The Wittmers were a warm, loving couple who made few demands of Alice. They were able to allow her the growing room an adolescent needed, and she blossomed in their care. She developed a happy, out-going personality which made her popular with neighbors and friends.

Alice did not like school. In fact, that may have been influenced by an eye condition which would have benefieted from perscription glasses. A.W. Tice, an agent for the Children's Aid Society, recognized Alice's eye condition, but he neglected to do anything about it (such notation was made in her file). Alice did, however, like to cook, bake, and sew. She enjoyed helping Mrs. Wittmer with household tasks.

Alice found domestic work in Sabetha. She was socially active and popular with her peers while employed by the Showman family. A close friendship with another young woman of the community developed. The two attended numerous functions together. Their close resemblance and physical build caused friends to refer to them as "the twins", which was a source of amusement for both.

Alice started dating in 1916. Her gentleman friend met Mrs. Wittmer's approval. He went into military service, and Alice faithfully awaited his return. During this time, Alice became a cook and housekeeper in the home of a doctor in Oneida. She was especially proud of being able to save $500 while in his employ.

On August 14, 1919, Alice and Raymond Gentry were married at Sabetha, Kansas. Raymond farmed with his father before helping dig trenches for the pipeline that brought gas service to Sabetha's homes and businesses.

The Gentrys were blessed with six children; Bobby (1920), Donald (1924), Leonard (1925), Norma (1926), Geneva (1929), and Jerry (1938). The first five were born at Sabetha. Jerry was born after the family moved to Centralia in the early thirties. The oldest son, Bob, had the privilege of living with the Wittmers (just as Alice had) the year he finished his elementary education in the same school his mother had attended.

After the Gentrys moved into Topeka, both Raymond and Alice worked at the supply depot before she became a dietary cook at St. Francis Hospital. Since cooking was one of her specialties, she was in her element in the hospital kitchen.

Raymond died in 1975 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery southwest of Sabetha.

In 1976, Alice married Wilbur Kimble of Topeka. He died June 3, 1986. Following her death on February 4, 1987, Alice Lydia Crosby Gentry Kimble was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery beside her first husband. A daughter, Norma Gentry McCart, preceded both parents in death. Alice is survived by 15 grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren.

Alice was not one to talk about her early childhood. She did acknowledge having an older brother, lewis, whose death was the result of an accident.