Dalton Bruce Whipple

On March 26, 2022, at 9:45 am, a special soul was called home. Dalton Bruce Whipple, surrounded by his siblings and Mother, passed away peacefully in his sleep just one month after his 38th birthday. The night before, Dalton was alert and happily talking with his family, joking and counting the donuts his big brother Bret, brought home for all to enjoy.

Born February 24, 1984, Dalton is the son of Jane Whipple and Daryl Bradshaw. He was welcomed into a home of six girls and three boys. Despite his health challenges, and the special needs that afflicted him from birth, Dalton lived a full and joyful life. He was supported and very deeply loved, by all who had the privilege to know him. 

Labeled a failure to thrive baby, Dalton was kept alive by the grit and determination of his mother. At ten pounds and ten months old, he underwent his first heart surgery in preparation for a major operation several years later. Still considered high risk, Dalton was given a 40% chance of surviving the operation and spent a month in the hospital at UCLA.. At the age of eight, with the help of genome research, Dalton was diagnosed with the genetic disorder, Prader-Willi Syndrome. A disorder that effects the 15th chromosome which can occur in 1 in 15,000 births each year.

Despite these obstacles, Dalton lived a full and happy life on his ranch in Hiko, Nevada. He showed pigs and lambs with the local 4-H Club at the Clark County Fair for many years. He was main-streamed in the school system where he established life-long friends who he regularly spoke about. He rode horses and enjoyed driving his 4-wheeler giving him an unprecedented amount of freedom, uncommon for a child with the same affliction in the city. Dalton was an avid arrowhead collector who would search for hours after a recent rain and was always ready to help his siblings with projects on the ranch.

Because Dalton’s siblings were older, a visit with each one exposed him to most of the national parks on the west coast and regular trips to New York City and Los Angeles. Where-ever he went, he touched the hearts and lives of people. A visit to Disneyland and Knott’s Berry farm  always ensured a collection of stuffed animals, as strangers would give their hard-earned prize to Dalton with the desire to just see him smile. The community he lived in was even more generous. 

Friends, neighbors and strangers would stop him for a hug and conversation. Always lifted by his joyful sprit and contagious smile, people enjoyed spending time with him. He was blessed to grow-up in such a loving community and he truly valued the relationships he had with the people in his life.

While in school, it was discovered that Dalton had an excellent signing voice. Some of his favorite songs were “Home on the Range”, “Silent Night” and “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. It was not uncommon to watch him bring people to tears with the purity of his voice and his own interpretation of the song.

Dalton is survived by his mother, Jane Whipple; his siblings, Bret (Paige) Whipple, Betsy Whipple, Blu (Lisa) Whipple, Peggy (John) Reggio, Cody (Dana) Whipple, and J.J. (Lance) Waller; his nieces and nephews, Hope, Shea, Kent, Emma, Hallie, Maggie, Kate, Lydia, Arien, and Colton; his great-nieces and -nephews, Revel, Everly, Wright; and many close and loving friends that were a part of his life. Dalton is received in Heaven by Daddy Kent.

Viewing services will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Alamo, NV Chapel, with Funeral services following at 11:00. Interment will follow at the Kent Whipple Ranch in a family plot on a plateau overlooking the ranch. A live-stream of the services may be found at Dalton Whipple Facebook group. The family invites you to consider a donation in Dalton’s honor to: Clark County Junior Livestock Association (CCJLA), www.ccjla.com, CCJLA, P.O. Box 668, Logandale, NV 89021. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com. 

Moapa Valley Mortuary (702-398-3600) is overseeing the funeral procession and The Front Porch (702- 397-8334) is preparing flowers. All who knew and enjoyed Dalton are welcome.

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