Phillip Wayne Wilburn

Phillip Wayne Wilburn 81 went peacefully with the Lord on January 6, 2018. Phillip was born in Saginaw Michigan on October 14, 1936 to Cecil and Beatrice Wilburn, who preceded him in death. Phillip served as an Airman Third Class in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged on August 20, 1957. He attended, graduated, BFA 1963 and taught at The Art School of The Society of Arts and Crafts (now College for Creative Studies) in Detroit Michigan, where he met his loving wife Shirley of 58 years. They had two children Wayne and April and moved their family to Santa Fe New Mexico in 1965. Following The Detroit Institute of Art’s 54th Exhibition for Michigan Artists, the Institute acquired one of his paintings for their permanent art collection. As an accomplished artist he continued to show his art in Chicago and Detroit. Group shows included: Grand Rapids Art Museum (1961, 1965), Detroit Institute of Arts (1962, 1963, 1964, 1966), and Cranbrook Academy (1967). One-man exhibitions: Detroit Institute of Arts (1965), and Richard Gray Gallery, Chicago (1967). Received: Detriot Institute of Arts Purchase Prize (Founders Society, 1964), Campbell-Ewald Award (1964), National Council on the Arts Award (1966), New Mexico Museum of Fine Arts Southwest Fine Arts Biennial Juror’s Award (1976). As a martial artist of 52 years in New Mexico he was the founder of A Monastic 2 Man Practice Method and the Solo Tree Form. Recently his passion for chess and motivation to enable those less fortunate access to the game led him to develop a bottlecap chess set which has been appearing in the Santa Fe Reporter for the past year. He is survived by his wife Shirley, son Wayne Wilburn (wife Christie) Portland Oregon, daughter April Skillen (husband Kevin) Yreka California, grandchildren Phillip and Erik (Neel) Ava and Gabriel (Wilburn) Sister Roxanne Snowden, stepbrothers Donald and Lonnie Wilburn and many nephews and nieces. Catholic Mass to be held on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 11:00am at Cristo Rey Church with a Reception to follow at Msgr. Patrick Smith (Gymnasium). In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Cristo Rey Catholic Church, 1120 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501.