Philip Ross Dusenbury, of Tryon, died March 7, 2013, from injuries sustained in an accidental fall in his house on Page Farm Road.

Born in Tryon, Sept. 10, 1948, to George and Jane Dusenbury, Philip was an accomplished artist whose work is in many private collections and has been shown in galleries and museums throughout the country.

He received his bachelor of fine arts degree in 1969 from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. While at UNC, Philip was a member of the Saint Anthony Hall fraternity and was named to the dean’s list his senior year.

After college, he was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Yuma, Ariz. Unlikely but true, among the buildings in his night watch duties, was a building with a kiln. This meant that until he was ordered back east, he was able to fire clay figures.

Philip began his art career as a painter, but soon developed a love for sculpture and built his reputation in that medium. At his studio in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Philip worked primarily in papier-mâché, epoxy and plaster cloth.

His creations are sometimes whimsical, sometimes solemn, but always thoughtful and distinctive. He could sculpt any subject in any pose doing anything.

Philip was also a voracious reader of books (never got cable TV or a computer), an accomplished golfer and avid outdoorsman who enjoyed both the mountains and the ocean.

He was most often spotted around town in his beloved all-white 1976 Volkswagen convertible, and usually in the company of a loyal all-black Labrador retriever.
Philip is survived by brothers, George and John, both of Atlanta, Ga.; sister Adele of Stony Brook, N.Y.; three nephews; a niece; six grand-nephews and a grand-niece.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross, 150 Melrose Avenue, Tryon. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Lanier Library, 72 Chestnut St., Tryon, NC. 28782, Att: Vonda Krahn.

Following the service, an informal exhibition of sculptures is planned for the reception. Everyone is invited to bring a sculpture or a photo of Philip’s work to share. Please bring them to the parish hall of Holy Cross by 2 p.m. on March 23.