Mrs. Lulu Belle (Powers) Thomas, age 88, of Patriot, Indiana, entered this life on February 13, 1937 in Ohio County, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of the late Carl and Beulah (Wainscott) Powers. She was raised in Florence and Patriot, Indiana and was a 1955 graduate of the Patriot High School. Lulu Belle was united in marriage to Donald S. Thomas on June 11, 1955 at the Florence Christian Church in Florence, Indiana. This happy union of over 67 years was blessed with a daughter, Donna and a son, Anthony. A devoted homemaker, she also worked alongside her husband on their family farm. For 20 years, Lulu Belle was employed at the Switzerland County Courthouse in the clerk’s office for voter registration, retiring in 2015. Lulu Belle was a former member of the Concord Community Church in Patriot, Indiana, where she taught the Concordia class. She was a member of the Mt. Sterling Baptist Church in Mt. Sterling, Indiana and the Switzerland County Homemakers Club. Lulu Belle was also a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 Ladies Auxiliary and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 Ladies Auxiliary. Throughout their marriage, Lulu Belle and Donald shared their love of music, playing in various churches for many years. She especially cherished bluegrass and gospel music, and with her gift for playing multiple instruments, including the guitar and piano, she filled her life with song. She loved to sing, and when not making music, she found great joy in tending to her garden, crocheting, cross stitching, as well as, cooking and baking. Lulu Belle passed away at 4:06 p.m., Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the Swiss Villa Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Vevay, Indiana.
Lulu Belle will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Donna Knaus and her husband, Barry of Vevay, IN; her son, Anthony Thomas and his wife, Venita of Patriot, IN; her grandchildren, Jessica Gibbs, Natalie Dickerson, Justin Thomas and Evan Graham; her great-grandchildren, Lillian Gibbs, Landon Gibbs, Arya Dickerson, Tucker Dickerson, Easton Thomas, and Mason Thomas; her sisters-in-law, Barbara Ann Jones of Batesville, AR and Joan Thomas of Worthville, KY; and her several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carl Powers, died February 24, 1987; her mother, Beulah (Wainscott) Powers, died April 5, 1971; her husband, Donald S. Thomas, died January 7, 2023; her brothers, Omer Stewart Powers, died October 7, 1990, Carl William Powers, died March 12, 2000, and Albert Owen “Buster” Powers, Sr., died March 10, 2019; her sisters, Georgia Marie (Powers) McDole, died July 14, 2001, and Ruby Dolores (Powers) Rowlett, died January 29, 2021; and her son-in-law, Brett Lee Graham, died February 16, 2008.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, September 1, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043. Auxiliary Services will be conducted at 7:30 p.m., Monday, September 1, 2025.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 2, 2025, by Pastor Mike Sawalich, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mt. Sterling Baptist Church or Swiss Villa Activities Fund. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com