Roger Whomes

Roger B. Whomes

April 6, 1955

January 28, 2014

Roger was born April 6, 1955 to Donald and Willetta Whomes in Fallon, Nevada. He attended West End school, EC Best Jr. High School and Churchill County High School. In 1971 the family moved to Reno. Roger's junior and senior year were spent at Bishop Manogue High School where he played on the Manogue football and basketball teams. He graduated in 1973.

Roger attended the University of Nevada at Reno. He was born to be in law enforcement. While at the University, he began working as a volunteer with the Sparks Auxilary Police department. He also worked at Whittenburg Hall Juvenile Detention center. Roger studied Education and graduated in 1979.

After UNR he enrolled in the Reno Police Academy where he worked for two years. He then attended the McGeorge School of Law where he earned a Jurist Doctor degree in 1985.

Roger joined the Washoe County District Attorney's office after graduation. He worked in that office for 18 years, with a three year hiatus in private practice. During his time at the District Attorney's office he was Chairman of the DUI Task Force and developed criteria for investigating and prosecuting DUI's. Roger was the prosecutor in more than 100 jury trials. He finished his time with Washoe County with two years in the Public Defender's office.

Roger ran a strong campaign in pursuit of the office of Washoe County District Attorney in 2010, missing election to that office by a narrow margin. He later joined the Humbolt County District Attorney's office in Winnemucca, where he worked for nearly three years. He retired from that office in January of 2014.

Roger was an avid sportsman beginning as a 12 year old, deer hunting in Monitor Valley outside of Austin, Nevada. He grew up fishing at Birch Creek and Kingston Canyon. He hunted birds, deer, antelope and elk. Roger belonged to the Humbolt Hunt club, where he included his family in all of these activities and made many friends. He loved Nevada: its mountains, its deserts, its streams, its wildlife, and most of all, Roger loved its vast size and peaceful silence.

Roger also loved running. He belonged to a running club and really enjoyed the camaraderie. He loved running the trails, especially Steamboat ditch. He entered and finished numerous marathons and lesser distances, almost always to raise money for a worthy cause.

Roger surrendered to God's calling and went to His welcoming arms on January 28, 2014. May he rest in the shadow of God in heaven and find the peace and joy he so richly deserves.

Roger is proudly survived by his parents, Donald and Willetta Whomes, his children, John and Kathryn Whomes, his sister, Lisa Merrill, brother-in-law Mike, his loving nephews, Gregory and Jack. He also had many loving aunts and cousins.

A Rosary will be held for Roger at St. Albert the Great Catholic church at 7 pm on Friday, February 7, 2014. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday, February 8th, at st. Albert Catholic church. A reception will follow.

The Whomes family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Catholic Charities in Roger's name.