Mr. Vargas was born April 19, 1944, at Salina. He was a welder and worked for Great Plains Manufacturing, Salina, for more than 11 years. He was a Private First Class in the U.S. Army and a member of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Germany. He enjoyed listening to music and dancing and also played and coached fast-pitch softball.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of Salina; four sons, Michael Davis of Ocean View, Del., and Jimmy Davis, Leroy Vargas and John Vargas, all of Salina; five daughters, Laura Cannon, Patricia Tyler, Maria Koury and Amy Vargas, all of Salina, and Rachel Chestnut of Phillipsburg; five brothers, Daniel, Tommy, Robert and Jerry, all of Salina, and Richard of Wichita; three sisters, Mary Soto of Topeka, Marie Vazquez of Puerto Rico and Rosana Anderson of Salina; 27 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401. The body will be cremated following the service.

A vigil/rosary service will be at 7:30 p.m. today at Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina 67401.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Leslie Kreps American Legion Post 62.