Louella Bellinger Waddle, 94
Louella Bellinger Waddle, age 94, of Huntingburg, Indiana, passed away on March 23, 2012 at Community Hospital South in Indianapolis.
She was born September 26, 1917 in Huntingburg, Indiana to Moody and Sarah (Sunderman) Katterhenry. She was united in marriage to Allan “Beechie” Bellinger, her high school sweetheart, on June 7, 1941 in Evansville. They were married 32 years until his death on July 1, 1973. Later she married Russell Waddle, the man next door, on September 14, 1985. They were married until his death on May 13, 1996.
Louella worked as a school secretary at Maple Park Elementary and later at Huntingburg High School. She and Beechie were both graduates of the Huntingburg High School Class of 1934. Later in her career she was a dorm director at Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) for three years. She played the organ at the former Emmanuel Evangelical United Brethren Church and at Salem United Church of Christ, both in Huntingburg, for a total of 68 years. She started playing at age 12 and was reported to be the youngest in the state at that time. Louella was an accomplished musician, playing both piano and organ, and she willingly played for weddings, funerals, and other musical events in the community. Music was her life. In high school she played piano in The Midwestern Monarchs, the high school dance band, and drums in the Girls’ Drum Corp. She was a proud member of the Huntingburg Music Club for 76 years. She was also a member of the former Business and Professional Womens’ Club and Salem United Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Moody and Sarah Katterhenry; her husbands, Allan “Beechie” Bellinger, Jr. and Russell Waddle; and a grandson, Mark Bucko.
She is survived by: her daughter, Susan Bucko and her husband Jim of Greenwood, IN; two grandchildren, David Bucko of Greenwood, IN and Anne Bucko of Unionville, IN; and one great grandson, David Bucko, Jr. of Greenwood, IN. She is also survived by: a niece, Kathie Kruse of Maryville, TN; her sister-in-law, Colette Fennemen of Lenior City, TN; and two cousins, Glenn Katterhenry of Evansville, IN and Bill Katterhenry of Florissant, MO.
A public Celebration of Life service for Louella Bellinger Waddle will be held at 3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at Salem United Church of Christ in Huntingburg, with visitation from 1:00-3:00 p.m., Saturday, at the church. Private committal of the cremains will be held at Fairmount Cemetery, in Huntingburg, Saturday morning. The Rev. David E. McIntyre of Normandy, TN and Rev. Tom Wade will officiate at the celebration. Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg has been entrusted with the arrangements. There will be no visitation at the funeral home; all visitation and services will take place at the church on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to: Salem United Church of Christ.
