Roll Call Tribute
Joseph "Robert" Barry Jr. '61 April 21, 2021 4:31 PM updated: April 21, 2021 4:42 PM
Joseph "Popee" Robert Barry, Jr.
March 11, 1931 - January 04, 2021
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 7, 2021 at a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church for Dr. Joseph Robert Barry, Jr., age 89, who passed away Monday, January 4, 2021 at his residence in Sunset.
Interment will be in St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Grand Coteau.
Dr. Joseph Robert Barry, Jr. was a native and lifelong resident of the Grand Coteau/Sunset community where his contributions to numerous academic and community organizations were recognized over the years. A devout Catholic, he was a lifelong parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council and was a lector for many years. Dr. Barry was a veteran of the United States military, proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He later served as the Commander at the Sunset American Legion Post.
Completing his undergraduate education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly SLI, he went on to attain his Master's degree at Louisiana State University and his PhD in Horticulture Science at Texas A&M. He began his career as a university professor, touching the lives of countless students and budding farmers and horticulturists, at the LSU Agriculture Extension Center’s Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, LA, and later became a Professor of Horticulture at USL from 1969 – 1985 where he received the distinguished professor award. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Society, the Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research, the organizer of the Louisiana Greenhouse Growers Association, and the local farmers market, the Louisiana Association of Retired Teachers, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Dr. Barry was also a respected small business owner, the founder of Barry's Wholesale Nursery in Grand Coteau, and a board member of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Growers Association.
Known within the communities of Sunset and Grand Coteau for his service and generosity, Dr. Barry was a past president of the Sunset Sertoma Club and received the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award Dr. Barry was granted the honor of reigning as both the King of Sunset Mardi Gras and the King of the Yambilee Festival.
Dr. Barry is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Karleen Guilbeau Barry of Sunset; five sons, Robert Barry, III and his wife, Sheila, of Sunset; Dr. Michael D. Barry of Grand Coteau; Karl Barry and his wife, Karen, of Lafayette; Dr. Mark Barry of Grand Coteau; and Dr. Tim Barry and his wife, Cathy, of Lafayette; two daughters, D'Ann Plauche and her husband, Jery, of Lafayette; and Linda B. Player and her husband, Robert "Baye", of Hingham, MA; one daughter-in-law, Patricia "Peachie" Barry of Grand Coteau; sixteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one sister-in-law, Janelle Guilbeau Broussard; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Dr. Charles P. Barry; his parents, Joseph Robert Barry, Sr. and the former Odelia Brinkhaus, both natives of Grand Coteau; and one sister, Patricia Barry Guillet.
A rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday.
Melancon Funeral Home of Grand Coteau, 289 Church Street, (337) 662-7286, is in charge of arrangements.
Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, guests are required to wear a mask while in the funeral home.
© Copyright 2006 - 21 Melancon Funeral Home
March 11, 1931 - January 04, 2021
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 7, 2021 at a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church for Dr. Joseph Robert Barry, Jr., age 89, who passed away Monday, January 4, 2021 at his residence in Sunset.
Interment will be in St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery in Grand Coteau.
Dr. Joseph Robert Barry, Jr. was a native and lifelong resident of the Grand Coteau/Sunset community where his contributions to numerous academic and community organizations were recognized over the years. A devout Catholic, he was a lifelong parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church where he served on the Parish Council and was a lector for many years. Dr. Barry was a veteran of the United States military, proudly serving his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He later served as the Commander at the Sunset American Legion Post.
Completing his undergraduate education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, formerly SLI, he went on to attain his Master's degree at Louisiana State University and his PhD in Horticulture Science at Texas A&M. He began his career as a university professor, touching the lives of countless students and budding farmers and horticulturists, at the LSU Agriculture Extension Center’s Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, LA, and later became a Professor of Horticulture at USL from 1969 – 1985 where he received the distinguished professor award. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Society, the Louisiana Society for Horticultural Research, the organizer of the Louisiana Greenhouse Growers Association, and the local farmers market, the Louisiana Association of Retired Teachers, and the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
Dr. Barry was also a respected small business owner, the founder of Barry's Wholesale Nursery in Grand Coteau, and a board member of the Louisiana Nursery and Landscape Association and of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Growers Association.
Known within the communities of Sunset and Grand Coteau for his service and generosity, Dr. Barry was a past president of the Sunset Sertoma Club and received the Sertoma Service to Mankind Award Dr. Barry was granted the honor of reigning as both the King of Sunset Mardi Gras and the King of the Yambilee Festival.
Dr. Barry is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Karleen Guilbeau Barry of Sunset; five sons, Robert Barry, III and his wife, Sheila, of Sunset; Dr. Michael D. Barry of Grand Coteau; Karl Barry and his wife, Karen, of Lafayette; Dr. Mark Barry of Grand Coteau; and Dr. Tim Barry and his wife, Cathy, of Lafayette; two daughters, D'Ann Plauche and her husband, Jery, of Lafayette; and Linda B. Player and her husband, Robert "Baye", of Hingham, MA; one daughter-in-law, Patricia "Peachie" Barry of Grand Coteau; sixteen grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; one sister-in-law, Janelle Guilbeau Broussard; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by one son, Dr. Charles P. Barry; his parents, Joseph Robert Barry, Sr. and the former Odelia Brinkhaus, both natives of Grand Coteau; and one sister, Patricia Barry Guillet.
A rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday.
Melancon Funeral Home of Grand Coteau, 289 Church Street, (337) 662-7286, is in charge of arrangements.
Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, guests are required to wear a mask while in the funeral home.
© Copyright 2006 - 21 Melancon Funeral Home
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