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FRANKLIN – John Charles Vargo Jr., 76, passed away Dec. 19, 2021 in Southampton Memorial Hospital. Born in Southampton County on Dec. 29, 1944, he was a son of the late John Charles Vargo Sr. and Josephine Hasty Vargo. He was also predeceased by a daughter, Angelia Harris.

John was a graduate of Windsor High School and a retired operator in the pulp mill department at International Paper. He taught defensive driving classes for the Commonwealth of Virginia and a former member of the Franklin Rescue Squad. He was an active member of Burdette Baptist Church and was a member of the local Gideon Camp.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 55 years, Gracie Kitchen Vargo; a son, John Charles Vargo III; a sister, Mary O’Neal; two brothers, James Arnold “Bugga” Vargo (Kay) and Thomas Edward “Tommy” Vargo; four grandchildren, Heather Nicole Harris and Joseph Adam Harris (Savannah) and Christopher Ryan Vargo and Samantha Gail Richards (Tyler); two great-grandchildren, C.J. Harris and Blake Richards; a son-in-law, Steve Harris; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for John and his daughter, Angelia who died Nov. 6, 2021, will be held Thursday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. in Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Poe and the Rev. James H. Hyatt Jr. officiating. The burial will follow at Southampton Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and suggests that memorial donations be made to Burdette Baptist Church or Franklin Fire and Rescue.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org