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Anacortes American, September 14, 2022
Virginia Lee Dusenbury
Sedro-Woolley - Virginia was born to Walter and Effie Bassett on February 21, 1927, in Montclair, New Jersey. She went to the Lord on August 31, 2022. At the time of her passing she was living at Birchview Memory Care in Sedro-Woolley, WA.
Virginia's father was a fruit buyer for a grocery store that later became Safeway. Her mother was a teacher before she married Walter. She loved to read - especially The Harvard Classics. Virginia inherited this propensity and continued to read the classics well into her 90's.
Virginia loved to draw, color, and paint from an early age. She and her grade school friends loved to cut out paper dolls and design and paint elaborate outfits for them.
She developed a love for music in grade school. She emulated a favorite teacher who taught her to sing in parts.
Walter bought a baby grand piano after Effie insisted that Virginia take piano lessons. Virginia enjoyed her piano, it followed her around the USA and presently resides in Anacortes. Even as her health declined, she enjoyed playing her favorite classics.
At age 13, she met Bob, age 14, at a barn dance at the Calvary Methodist Church. Bob says: "It was love at first sight." Virginia says: "I asked Bob to go with me on our first date to a roller-skating party."
Virginia graduated from Bloomfield High in New Jersey and attended Rutgers University. She moved to Montana and married Bob on September 19, 1946. She completed her college degree in Fine Arts at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Paul, their first son, was born in February 1950 and Michael was born in May 1951.
In 1955 the family packed up and moved to the farm in Charlo, MT. Virginia baked bread; churned butter; fed the cows, chickens, and sheep; milked the cows, and raised two fun-loving mischievous boys.
In December 1965 the family moved to Wolf Point, MT, and Virginia's art career started. She loved the challenge of learning new media - oil, ink, watercolor, pastel, and etching. She preferred painting portraits of family, friends, and other unique characters. She said: "Painting portraits helps you see the beauty in everyone."
While living in Flagstaff, Arizona, she painted the features and made the detailed clothing and accessories for the many Hopi Kachinas that Bob carved.
She was an avid participant in many art and weaving organizations and held many administrative positions - Fort Peck Theatre Set Designer, Director at Large of Montana Institute of the Arts, Director of Flagstaff Art Center, President of Cedar City National Art Competition, President of Artists Northwest, and President of Whidbey Island Weavers Guild. Her work has been on display in collections around the country including the Guggenheim in New York City.
Virginia's watercolor sketch of the old "Curtis Wharf" in Anacortes was chosen for the cover of the 1993 MacGregor's Anacortes/San Juan Island Directory.
She was an award winner in many media and taught many workshops and classes in WA, MT, UT, CA, and AZ. Virginia loved teaching art. She taught lessons in her home as well at the Anacortes Senior Center. Many of her students went on to rewarding careers.
For many years Virginia and Bob had a booth at the Anacortes Art Festival. He carved fan birds, and she sketched portraits.
Virginia was an accomplished weaver and could often be seen wearing her beautiful hand-woven garments.
She loved her church, Bible studies, and singing in the choir. Bob always joked "Daddy sang bass" and "Mama sang tenor" - like the Johnny Cash song.
Bob and Virginia loved the sea and sailed all over the Puget Sound. They enjoyed sharing the many adventures with their friends and family.
Bob and Virginia joined the ELCA Mission Builders and traveled around the U. S. They helped construct 11 churches. Virginia sketched the volunteers at work and left a drawing at the church upon completion of the project.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings - Doris Gidding and Jean Adams.
Virginia is survived by her two sons - Paul (Julie) of Anacortes and Michael (Debra) of Billings, MT. Virginia was blessed with five grandchildren - Angela (Ron) Huskey, Heidi (Chris) Dahl, Matt (Yuan Yuan) Dusenbury, Peter (Flavia) Dusenbury, Rena Dusenbury and five great grandchildren - Leah Dahl, Claire and Ellen Huskey, Mia and Ben Dusenbury.
The family thanks the professional staff at Birchview Memory Care. Their kindness was exceptional, their compassion noteworthy, and their understanding therapeutic.
Virginia said: "My life has been an adventure and a delight. God bestowed upon me the talents of art and music. For this I am most grateful."
Memorial Service will be held at the Anacortes Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 1:00pm.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1927 - 2022 (95 years)