BILOXI, Mississippi (AP) — Ella Mae Barq, the granddaughter of the founder of Barq’s Root Beer and the company’s vice president, has died at the age of 90 in Biloxi.
Gary Dubaz with Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Homes say she died Sunday of natural causes.
Her grandfather, Edward Charles Barq Sr., founded the company in 1890 and passed the reins to his son Edward Jr. Ella Barq began working with her father and oldest brother, William, right after graduating college. She and William eventually took over the company when their father died in 1970.
At the time of her death, she was vice president and secretary-treasurer of the company. The company was sold to Coca-Cola in 1995.
A Mass is scheduled at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
