Lewis Russell Wrenn
November 5, 1952 – September 27, 2023
Lewis Russell “Rusty” Wrenn, 70, of Encinitas, California, passed away from natural causes on September 27, 2023.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Rusty was born November 5, 1952, the son of Dare Masters Wrenn and the late Dr. Hugh Orian Wrenn. He graduated from St. Christopher’s School in 1971 and attended Hampden-Sydney College and the University of Miami, where he studied oceanography.
From an early age, Rusty was drawn to the great outdoors, where he developed his passion for tennis, golf, fishing and boating. He was always most happy on the water and spent many summers with his family at “the river.”
Shortly after school, Rusty moved to Florida and began his career in landscape design with an emphasis on golf courses. One of his early successes (and a proud accomplishment) was the significant landscaping renovation of the practice facility at TPC Sawgrass. In the late 1990’s Rusty moved to Southern California, where he worked as a yoga instructor for Bikram Choudhury at his famous studio in Los Angeles, teaching many celebrities of the day. By the early 2000’s Rusty returned to his landscaping career in Encinitas, where he made his home for the last twenty years.
Survivors include his mother, Dare Masters Wrenn; his sisters, Anne Wrenn Poulson and Ellen Masters Wrenn; his nephew, Richard “Hundley” Poulson; his niece, Anna Blair Poulson; his uncle, Howard Masters, Jr.; his step-brother, Leighton Klevana (Chandler); his cousins, Robert Wrenn (Kathy), Lee Wrenn (Gene Krupa), Susan Lindeman (Bruce) and Ellen Ross Gibson. He is also survived by his life-long friends, the “brotherhood” from Ponte Vedra, Florida, including Bobby Weed, Harrison Minchu, Andy Riggsby and Greg Stang among others. He was pre-deceased by his father Hugh Orian Wrenn; his uncle and aunt, Robert and Lucille Wrenn (Bobby and Bobbie); his paternal grandparents, Lewis Orian Wrenn and Anna Lee Wrenn Hawkins; his maternal grandparents, Dr. Howard Russell Masters, and Bealmear “Mimi” Linthicum Masters; and his brother-in-law, Richard J. M. Poulson.
Charismatic and genuine, Rusty was known for his ability to strike up a conversation with anyone (especially young people) and for his avid love of reading, history, travel and outdoor adventure. His personality, friendship, humor and ever-present smile will be sorely missed.
Family and friends will gather at a later date for a private remembrance. To honor Rusty’s passion for nature and the water, contributions can be made in his name to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403 (www.cbf.org).
Donations can also be made in his name to First Tee, an organization empowering kids and teens through golf, where Rusty’s extensive golf club collection has been donated. (www.firsttee.org)
