Donald "Mike" Barry
June 30, 1942 ~ March 31, 2019
Donald "Mike" Barry, 76, of Mooresville, died on Sunday, March 31, 2019. Donald was born June 30, 1942, in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Virgil M. and Emma Pauline (Brunton) Barry.
He was a charter member of Mooresville American Legion Post 103, founded in 1998. During his service to the American Legion, Don held many offices, culminating to Post Commander during 2008 – 2009 years. He also served as the American Legion 7 district Finance Officer for several years. Twenty years ago, when the Mooresville “Old Settlers” parade found themselves without a sponsor and coordinator, Don volunteered himself and the American Legion Post 103, which continues to this day as the Old Setters Veteran’s parade. The one American Legion program of which Don was the most proud was his involvement in the American Legion Post 103 scholarship committee. With much hard work, he saw it evolve from a $500 scholarship in Mooresville to a $12,000 scholarship in Mooresville, Monrovia, and Eminence.
Other memberships included Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and Indiana Freemasonry. He retired as a field investigator from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. He then continued to work at Ace Tool & Engineering Co, until a year ago. Don was also employed at Western Electric, KOROK Div. of TEPCO, and others. One of his favorite hobbies was regularly attending the weekly Long Neck Breakfast Club on Sunday morning at the VFW.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Dorothy "Lennie" Dooley, and a great niece, Brianna McQueen.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Bobbie, (they would have been married 40 years, August 2nd of this year); a brother, David Barry; and sisters, Maureen Wuertz, and Debbie (Steve) Verhines; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Saturday, April 6, 2019, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the chapel at Carlisle – Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville, with the service following at 2:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Legion Post 103 and the V.F.W. Post 1111; envelopes will be provided at the funeral home. Final care and arrangements have been entrusted to Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory. Visit CarlisleBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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ON BEHALF OF THE COMRADES AND SISTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVED ONE AND OUR DEPARTED COMRADE.OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL.SINCERELY VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA STATE CHAPLAIN KEISTON R.HOLLOWAY
Going to miss Don, had alot of good laughs.
Don Barry was a long time promoter and friend to the human powered vehicle (HPV) community. His workplace, ACE Tool, built some of the finest aluminum recumbent bicycles in America, enjoyed by many. They had a long wheelbase and square-tubed aluminum frame. Several folks from Indiana would show up at races across the Midwest with these bikes in the late 1980s and 1990s into the 2000s. We enjoyed races he helped host at Pioneer Park in Mooresville. Don continued to serve the HPV community by handling race insurance for all the HPV racing across the Midwest right up until the week he passed. He was always a calm presence on the phone, who handled the details for the insurance with the local folks. He will be missed. Below is a photo of him handling race registration duties at the Major Taylor velodrome in Indianapolis in 2009.
Our condolences to the family of Don “Penske”Barry. You proved to be a great engineer and intevator of H.P.V’s. Also a good friend. You will be solely missed. Shiny side up! Randy Lindley.
Uncle Mike I hope that you are at peace and enjoying a beer up there! Give mom a hug for me, and behave yourself up there!
Don was a friend, an inspirationm and a great supporter. We worked together on the Infinity bikes and the Human Powered vehicle racing series. He was an inventive thinker who loved pushing into fresh territory. We set some records, won some races and had a great time. He did some great things and he did them well. I,m proud to have worked with him. Terry Hreno