Roger Charles Holmes

Roger was born the youngest of four children to LaMar Lindsay Holmes and Bernice (Burton) Holmes in Ogden, Utah. He spent his childhood years growing up in Utah, Idaho, Massachusetts, and California. After graduating from Arcata High School, Roger served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile and Texas. When he returned home from missionary service, he met and married his sweetheart, Barbara Hastings, in the Oakland LDS Temple.

He received a bachelor’s in Spanish at Humboldt State and a master’s in Spanish at UC Davis. Roger and Barbara moved their young family to Visalia in 1981, where Roger was a Spanish teacher at Mt. Whitney High School until he retired in 2010. He also taught evenings at College of the Sequoias until his retirement. As a young man, Roger’s interests were reading, boxing, and debate. Later interests include playing classical guitar, gardening, swimming, reading, and operating his ham radio. Before his health declined, he actively served for many years in various positions of responsibility in the LDS church.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, LaMar and Bernice Holmes. He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Barbara Elaine Holmes, and his five children and their spouses: Aisha, Ian, Arthur, Bethany, and Jeff. He is also survived by his brothers, Bart and Dan, his sister Trilby, and his 17 grandchildren. Roger will be greatly missed.

Visitation to be held on Friday, July 21 from 6-8 p.m. at Miller Memorial Chapel (1120 W. Goshen Ave) in Visalia. A graveside service will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 22 at Visalia Public Cemetery in the Northwest section.

Tributes to Roger and condolences may be made at www.millerchapel.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Ave., Visalia, CA 93291