Phillip Nelson Truluck

A son of South Carolina, Phil was born in Florence (June 18, 1947.)  He spent his childhood and teenage years in Lake City, where he attended public schools.  His beloved mother, Ethel Mason Truluck, taught him American History and famously refused to grant him the well-deserved annual history award for fear of appearing partial.  He later went on to earn a B.S. in Finance at the University of South Carolina.  His leadership skills were recognized early and he was elected President of Chi Psi fraternity.

Perhaps to make up for the history award, his mother arranged for Phil to go to Washington and work for then Senator Strom Thurmond-as a driver and envelope stuffer.  Cream rose to the top and he went on to work in several congressional offices, as Deputy Director of the House Republican Study Committee and, for over 38 years, as a leader of the Heritage Foundation.

Along the way, he met, courted and married Ann Wrobleski on January 6, 1979.  Mason Martha was born ten years later, followed by twins, Walker Edward and Sutton Arthur.  Phil liked to say he went from man to man to zone defense in 30 months.

Phil was a born developer-of people and real estate.  As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Phil managed the day-to-day running of Heritage.  An astute policy analyst, strategic leader and gifted executive, Phil ensured the rigorous training and intellectual equipping of a generation of conservative leaders as they passed through Heritage’s doors.  He claimed many scholars, commentators, and members of Congress as former employees and enjoyed pointing out that so and so “had been at Heritage.”  Heritage was never far from his thoughts.  When called for jury duty and asked if he had any connection to law enforcement, he replied that well, actually, (former Attorney General) Ed Meese reported to him.  He was quickly dismissed.

A frustrated architect and contractor, over the years he initiated and managed the physical transformation of Heritage from a townhouse on Capitol Hill to the block long 250,000 square foot complex in the shadow of the Capitol that it is today.  Along the way he realized he loved the challenges of acquisition and renovation.  During the years when there was no project at Heritage, he put his skills to work in the Washington residential real estate market.  He and Ann moved 7 times in 37 years-in contiguous zip codes.

Christmas vacations usually required a passport.  He believed traveling together was the best present he could give his family-his favorite trip was floating down the Nile in perfect weather on Christmas day.  He also traveled the world to attend meetings of the Mont Pelerin Society and for 20 years spent the weekend after New Year’s at Sea Island attending The Awakening.  The August congressional recess meant several weeks at High Hampton in the western North Carolina mountains.  After retirement, he and Ann split their time between Cashiers, NC and Charleston, SC.  He also took up oil painting, concentrating on landscapes in the mountains and water and marsh scenes from the Low County.

He was an easy man to like, with a ready smile and a kind heart.  His optimism was contagious and he rarely raised his voice.  He was kind, gracious and gentle.  His integrity was unquestioned and his word was his bond.  He was proud of his children for their accomplishments but principally for their character.

While raised a Southern Baptist, he attended Catholic Church with his family every Sunday, believing that a family should worship together.  After the children were grown, he found a home in the Episcopal Church and became a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cashiers.  He attended Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston.

 
He is survived by his wife, Ann Wrobleski, their children and their spouses Mason (and Hunter), Walker (and Karen) and, Sutton (and Ashley) and grandchildren, Halliday and Myers Morris.  His sister, Linda (and Ted) and brother, Mason.

His funeral service will be held Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 3pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd.  A reception at High Hampton will follow.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ready, Willing & Working - www.rwwdc.org or the Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad at 79 N Norton Road, Cashiers, NC, 28736.

Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.