July 24, 1951 – December 26, 2023
Barry D. Powell, 72, of Mitchell, passed away on December 26, 2023, at his home with his family.
Born July 24, 1951, in Bedford, he was the son of George Robert “Bob” and Imogene Ruth (Barlow) Powell. He married Judith Ann Vaught on October 3, 1970, and she survives.
Barry graduated from Mitchell High School in 1969. After graduation, he attended John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana. Barry was employed for 25 years by Carpenter Body Works, painting the lettering, specialty artwork, and school mascots on buses and supervising the paint department. If you passed a Carpenter bus on the road, there was an excellent chance that it had been touched by Barry’s hand.
After retirement, Barry taught independent adult art courses, workshops, and courses for the John Waldron Art Center in Bloomington. Barry was a Brown County Art Association member and the Lawrence County Art Association. He received the Lawrence County Arts Leadership Award in 2008, given by the BAAC, and he participated and won several awards in The Hoosier Salon, the Indiana Heritage Festival, and the Persimmon Festival. Barry’s art depicted scenes from the American frontier, the French and Indian War, and the Revolutionary War, but his true gift was capturing the beauty of people living and working every day, both in colored pencil and oil.
Barry loved music, which he shared with his family, friends, and church family. He played guitar and he built custom hammers and lap dulcimers. Music still soothed his soul in his final days and brought a smile to his face.
Surviving are his wife, Judith Ann Powell of Mitchell; children, B.J. (Bobbi Jo) Powell of Bedford and Alicia Claffey of Mitchell; grandchildren, Audrey Powell, Maddie Powell, and Cody Powell; great-granddaughter, Coda Jackson; and siblings, David Powell of Mitchell, Darryl (Molly) Powell of Mitchell, and Mike (Deb) Powell of Salem.
His parents preceded him in death.
The funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 30, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with David Powell officiating. Burial will be at Talbott Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the service on Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial Gifts can be made in Barry’s memory to the Lawrence County Art Association.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com.
