Barry Jack Powell

Barry Jack Powell, 82, of Terre Haute, passed away on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at The Stonecroft in Bloomington. He was born on September 10, 1943, at Mary Sherman Hospital in Sullivan, IN to the late Nathan Eugene and Mary Ellen Powell.

Barry is survived by a sister, Susan Whitehead; his children: Kathleen (James) Jerse, Barry Jack (Sabine) Powell, Jill (Phil) Fernandez, and Brian (Karen) Powell; and six grandchildren: Matthew Fernandez, Karalee Jerse, Jonas Powell, Lucy Powell, Dillon Powell, and Phoebe Powell. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Harriett.

Barry grew up near Hymera, where his business acumen began to emerge, peddling newspapers and mowing lawns. A key moment of this formative period came the summer before his senior year at his Grandfather Greenwood’s lawn mower and bait shop, a place of his fondest childhood memories that influenced him, setting the tone for his career path of hard work and top-notch customer service.

It was also during this time when his parents moved to Linton after they secured teaching positions in that community. There, he met the love of his life, Harriett Ann Harting, and they married in 1961. Barry and Harriett moved to Terre Haute to attend Indiana State College, and shortly after, he obtained a part-time job sorting bottles for Coca-Cola. Barry graduated from ISU as his role at the business greatly evolved with various responsibilities in the warehouse, production and sales, culminating in Vice-President and General Manager in 1980.

With unwavering community leadership, he served as President of the Indiana Coco-Cola Bottlers Association, Secretary/Treasurer of the Indiana Soft Drink Association (20 years), Vice President of Mid-America Can Corporation, President of Wabash Valley Goodwill (17 years), Board Member and President of the Boys Club (30 years), Wabash Valley Rotary Member (30 years), Member of the Wabash Valley Personnel Club, Terre Haute Symphony Board, 4-H Council Cub Master, Chairman of the Trustees for Grace United Methodist Church, and was the founding sponsor of WTHI Golden Apple Awards.

Barry retired from the company in 2006 after the better part of four decades of committed, dedicated service. Their love of travel took Barry and Harriett around the globe to Europe, Asia, Australia, Caribbean and Pacific islands, and every corner of the North American continent. Some of his favorite memories were captivating times they shared together experiencing the cultures of China, New Zealand, Germany, Hawaii and Alaska. In his later years, he proudly followed the successes of his children and grandchildren, who have carried on Barry’s tireless passion to excel.

Barry Jack Powell embodied the Coke and a Smile mantra throughout his life and will forever be remembered for his endless supply of radiant red socks. Always Coca-Cola, he proudly was The Real Thing, whether handing out Cokes to trick-or-treaters every Halloween or waving to neighbors.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, at the funeral home, with Chaplain Don Sanders officiating. Barry will be laid to rest in the K of P Cemetery in Hymera, next to his wife.