Patrick Cannell Irwin

Patrick Cannell Irwin was born June 26, 1930 in Compton, California to Glenn Irwin and Evelyn Morton Irwin. He grew up on a dairy farm in the hills north of Los Angeles, California. As a teenager he lived in the Bakersfield, California, area. He attended Bakersfield High School, Bakersfield College, University of California and University of Houston.

Pat served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952 to 1954. He was stationed on the Presidio of San Francisco in the Military Police. He and Patricia Wiltse were married on June 19, 1954, and continued to live in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. When his time in the military was finished, he went to work for Shell Development Company in Emeryville, California as a Research Technician. Their two children, Laurel and Peter were born while they lived in the Bay Area. In 1972 he was moved to Houston, Texas and worked in the Bellaire Labs until Shell built a new research facility west of Houston called West Hollow. He worked there until he retired in 1980.

He was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church and continued to serve as an Elder as he had at the First Presbyterian Church in Richmond, California. He belonged to the Men’s Garden Club of Houston and served in several offices as well as President for two years. He loved leading Bible Study Groups both in California and Houston.

Pat had many diverse interests including The Boy Scouts, camping, back packing and fishing. He also enjoyed golf weekly with three friends, chess games, crossword puzzles, playing the guitar and banjo. After he retired he started watercolor painting and loved to attend a watercolor group that met two days each week. He also loved to travel and attend Elderhostels.

Pat went to be with the Lord on April 19, 2015. He is preceded in death by his father, Glenn Irwin and his mother, Evelyn Morton Irwin. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Wiltse Irwin, his daughter, Laurel Irwin Dye and her partner, Steve Rishkowski, his son, Peter James Irwin, M.D. and his wife, Amy Gleason Irwin, and his granddaughter,Diane Elaine Irwin. He is also survived by his sisters, Dorothy Irwin Wyatt and Adeline Irwin Tucker.

Donations can be sent to Grace Presbyterian Church, Houston, Texas, for the Missions Fund.