Pastor Joseph Vargo passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston on August 14, 2015 at the age of 71. He was the husband of Deanna (Medeiros) Vargo; they had been married for 47 years.
Pastor Joe was born on November 13, 1943 in Painesville, Ohio, the son of the late Joseph Vargo and Barbara Pudder. He graduated from Ellet High School in 1961, and then served in the U.S. Navy until 1969. He worked as an insurance agent, a food salesman, and a custodian at Greater New Bedford Regional Voc-Tech High School. He coached little league and pony league baseball, CYO and Special Olympics basketball teams. He had a great love for the Lord, and served for the past ten years as an associate pastor at the Christian Fellowship Center, leading the men's and prison ministries.
He is survived by his wife, Deanna; two sons, Michael and his wife Julie of Santa Monica, CA, and Eric and his wife Hanna and two grandchildren Rosie and Samuel of Los Angeles, CA; three sisters Sue Cochran and her husband Tim of Crestline, CA, Connie Vargo of Florida, Pamela Vargo of Washington, D.C.; a brother James Vargo and his wife Della of Mogadore, OH, and many special nieces and nephews.
His funeral service will be held on Wednesday August 19th at 10 AM at the Christian Fellowship Center, 822 Church St., New Bedford. Burial with military honors will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, August 18th from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Break'n The Chainz Ministries, PO Box 21, Chartley, MA, 02712. Visit www.saundersdwyer.com for tributes and directions.