Barry Dean Setzer

1942 - 2022

Barry Dean Setzer

December 25, 1942 - January 31, 2022

Barry Dean Setzer, lifelong innovator, dies at 79.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path." Proverbs 3:5. That was Barry's life verse, and the following narrative is a sprint along his remarkable path: we might have known something special was up in 1942 when Barry's mother, Wanda Lee, brought him into the world on Christmas Day. As a little boy, he was all about speed. Family and neighbors loved his vocal impersonation of a fast car — engine revving, then a big backfire which he enunciated as POW!

Born in Charlotte, with family ties in Hickory, he was working at age 17 as a deckhand on an Ohio River oil barge. Pennzoil doled out the wages, and Barry saved enough to buy a Harley Sportster motorcycle. He raced it at Daytona, scored with the crowds and the judges, and his career in racing was launched. It would continue to be woven into the fabric of his life, along with the start-up of Barr Craft Knitting, his own yarn business in Hickory, at the age of 19. He had learned the business from his father, Claude (Toby) Setzer, who operated a Hickory knitting mill during the emerging North Carolina textile boom.

Barry's life picked up considerable speed from a successful run at Barr Craft. In 1972, he became owner and CEO of Regal Manufacturing Company in Hickory, processing spandex yarn for high-end fashion companies.

It was at the reception desk at Regal where he met the love of his life, Bonnie Lee Painter. They were married in 1974 at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis. 'Bonnie is beautiful, smart, and compassionate,' says Duree Joseph who has been close to the Setzers for four decades. 'They made a gorgeous couple. They were like our own personal movie stars.'

'The word for Barry is innovative,' says longtime family friend, Joe Mullins.

'He came up with major inventions for the yarn industry, but he made headlines with something completely unexpected. Textile plants release a lot of heat — Barry channeled that heat to the roof of Regal's main plant and had a great ride growin' hydroponic tomatoes up there. The news media loved the idea, and so did the grocery chains that climbed onboard.'

But Barry hadn't forgotten racing. And racing will be a long time forgetting Barry. In the early 70s, he ordered a race car to be custom-built by the illustrious chassis builder, John Buttera. Pat Foster, on his way to becoming illustrious, himself, was hired to drive the red and gold Vega to wins all over the country.

'Pat Foster in the Barry Setzer Vega was baddest of the bad,' wrote Tom West. 'Pat and Barry killed 'em.'

In an interview for the National Hot Rod Association, Barry expressed confidence in his Barr Race Cars team. 'Immediate goals in 1973,' he said, 'are to win everything.' If we read the online 1973 NHRA reportage, that's pretty much what happened.

Barry's custom Vega was quickly becoming a legend in its own time. For three consecutive years, it held the world record for fastest Funny Car. How fast? 227.27 mph.

Pat Foster is quoted as saying 'We went after it seriously on every run, like every run was for the national championship.'

The yarn business was strong in those days, and the cars were earning their keep.

But the real win of Bonnie's and Barry's life would be coming Sept. 21, 1977, when their daughter, Taja Bleu, was born. 'She was the light of their lives,' says Barry's sister, Brenda Furman. 'Barry had his hands full with his business, but he and Bonnie were totally there for Taja in her years of riding competitions all over the country. Taja became a 13-time world champion horsewoman.'

'My Mom and Papa were with me all the way,' says Taja, 'and they loved reaching out and helping others, too. Papa once found a young man sleeping in his factory at Regal. When Papa woke him up, he grabbed a broom and started sweeping. From that day on, he had a job at Regal; he became part of our family. They got him a bicycle that he rode everywhere, and they moved him into a little home of his own.'

From Regal, Barry became CEO at Worldtex, Inc., headquartered in Manhattan with factories in Bogota, Montreal, Normandy, and parts of Asia. 'Barry traveled all over the world for business,' says Bonnie. 'No matter what country he was in or what different cultures he encountered, he always knew how to connect with the locals. He had such appreciation and respect for other ways of life.'

'Fun would be one of the leading descriptions of my brother,' says Jan Karon. 'He once took me for a Sunday drive – we headed straight down the side of a mountain on what's called Staircase Road - which truly lived up to its name. As we entered the valley, there was a big, rushing creek - but no bridge. We forded it, of course, and the water was comin' in on the floorboards and I was scared and Barry was laughin' and I will never, ever forget that day. Goin' most anywhere with Barry was like goin' on safari without a gun.'

In one of the interviews during the racing years, Barry defined himself as an entrepreneur. In 2010, Taja gave him an idea he couldn't resist.

'So, Papa,' she said, 'it would be wonderful to have a little fabric garden bed on my patio instead of a bunch of pots everywhere.'

Ever the innovator, Barry did the research and created Victory 8 Gardens - makers of a folding, take-anywhere fabric garden container in a variety of sizes. Just what his daughter, and thousands of other gardeners, were looking for. https://victory8garden.com.

'Papa had a long bucket list,' says Taja. 'And he and my mom definitely got through most of it, including raising Scottish Highland cattle and cultivating beautiful rose gardens. He didn't get to do the next thing on his list - to go fishing off the Bogue Inlet Pier with J.D., my mom, and me. But I'm so happy he got to see the recent blessing of my marriage at Holy Cross. J.D. and I stood at the same altar where he and my mom were married.'

'Losing my wonderful husband,' says Bonnie, 'was the loss of so many binding relationships. He was also my best friend, my sweetheart, my confidante, and a deep well of courage, fun and compassion that never ran dry. His bravery and endurance through two severe chemo trials were part of his path - and Barry never once forgot Who was directing his path.'

Barry Setzer was born Dec. 25, 1942, and passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2022. What a lovely man. What a remarkable life. POW.

Barry Dean is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee; his daughter, Taja Bleu and her husband, J.D. Daleke, of Snowmass Village, Colo.; his brother, Phillip Randolph (Randy) Setzer of Statesville; his sisters, Brenda Furman of Baltimore, Md., and Jan Karon of Charlottesville, Va., and Black Mountain, N.C.; his nephews, David Craig of Baltimore, Md., Randy Setzer Jr., of Hickory, and Courtney Setzer of Statesville; his nieces, Jennifer Gray of Raleigh, Lisa Knaack of Roan Mountain, and Monica Tully of Atlanta, Ga.; many great-nieces and -nephews, and a legion of faithful friends who are literally innumerable.

The family will honor Barry's amazing life in a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, we hope you will make donations to the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, as they seek to discover cures for the greatest of our pandemics, https://giving.wakehealth.edu/Find-Your-Cause/Cancer *OCIR Orange County International Raceway, Irvine, Calif. See Barry Setzer's innovative Top Fuel Dragster in Don Garlits' Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Fla.

'Barry was a soft-spoken man of his word, and always a gentleman. A better car owner would be hard to find. (He was) the highlight of my career.' Driver Pat Foster, in a 2008 interview.

'He showed us the world wherever we were. He had a smile that would light up a room and warm your heart. We were always surrounded by laughter and adventure when we were together.' Bonnie and Taja Setz.

Salem Funeral Home

120 S Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101