Melvin Reed Whipple
Melvin Reed Whipple, a Las Vegas native, was 94 when he died April 21st. He graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1945 and was drafted into the United States Army where he served from 1945-1947. After his military service, Melvin attended Brigham Young University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1950. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina for two and a half years. After returning, he married Cleta Hammond and had four children: Dale, Retta (Hartman), Cynthia (Perez), and Margo (Ivy). In 1963, Melvin moved his family to Salt Lake City, Utah so he could attend law school at the University of Utah. He completed his studies and graduated in 1966 with a law degree; he and his family then moved back to Las Vegas where he began practicing law serving many years as a deputy district attorney. After retiring from law in 1991, Melvin and his wife served a mission for the LDS Church in Russia from 1993-1995. He served faithfully in his church assignments and was an inspiration to his family and others. He is preceded in death by his wife, Cleta, and daughter, Retta. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn (Benson); son, Dale (Norma); daughters, Cynthia (Tim), and Margo (Joe); 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. A viewing will take place at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30th, with the funeral service following at 10:30 a.m. at the LDS Chapel located at 3400 W. Charleston Blvd. He will be interred at the Woodlawn Cemetery, 1500 N. Las Vegas Blvd, on Monday, May 2nd, at 12:00 p.m.
