Joseph C. Wargo

Joseph C. Wargo, 86, a lifelong resident of Throop, died Thursday at the Gino Merli Veterans Center, Scranton. His wife of 62 years, the former Anna Stornable Wargo, was the person who brought the most joy to his life.

Born in Throop, Joseph was the son of the late Joseph A. and Mary Bartko Wargo. He was a graduate of Throop High School. After graduation, he was drafted into the Army and served in World War II in the European theater of operations, where he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal and European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three bronze stars. After his honorable discharge, he was employed at the Jaunty Fabric Corp. in Scranton and the Tobyhanna Army Depot until his retirement. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, Throop, and recently of Blessed Sacrament Parish, where he served as a member and past president of the Holy Name Society, and he also served as an usher. Joseph was active in the community; he served as a Boy Scout leader in Troop 73, Throop, where he recently observed his 75th anniversary in scouting. He was a past commander of VFW Post 7251, Throop, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 11, Dickson City, and a member of the American Legion Raymond Henry Post 327, Olyphant. He was a founding member of the Throop Community Ambulance Association, a member of the Pennsylvania Fire Police, the Throop Lions Club and he served as an alternate zoning officer in Throop. He was distinguished with the Citizen of the Year award for the Borough of Throop and Citizen of the Year for Mid Valley for his involvement and volunteer activities in the community. He was an avid Penn State and Philadelphia Eagles football fan; he enjoyed watching every game during the season. He went to his eternal rest peacefully. The family is grateful to the nurses, staff and doctors of Mercy Hospital, Evergreen Health Care Center and Gino Merli Veterans Center, especially Dr. Bishal Sehgal, Dr. Joseph Cesare and Dr. Chris Dressel. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Also surviving are two sons, attorney Joseph P. and wife, Carol, Olyphant; and Michael A. and companion, Jeannette Capo, Hawley; six grandchildren, Jennifer Wargo Horgan and husband, Loucky, Lansdale; Jeffrey Wargo and wife, Krista, Moosic; Jamie Wargo Cantafio and husband, Anthony, Olyphant; Jessica Wargo, Olyphant, and companion, Jonathan Eboli, Dunmore; Michael Wargo, Wilmington, N.C.; and Christopher Wargo, Philadelphia; five great-grandchildren who were the joy of his life, Loucky, Maggie and Bridget Horgan and Sophie and Andrew Wargo; nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Ruth Kingston Wargo.

The funeral with military honors will be Monday at 9 a.m. from the Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home Inc., 601 Dundaff St., Dickson City, with Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 in Blessed Sacrament Church, Throop. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Throop. Friends may call Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Boy Scout Troop 73, 635 E. Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant, PA 18447; or St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509. To leave an online condolence, visit www.mazurfuneral home.com.