FRANCISCO VARGAS

1935 - 2017

Francisco Manuel Vargas, an American success story. Colonel Vargas was born in El Paso, Texas October 10, 1935 and was a seminal of his time. Born into poverty, he helped his family make ends meet by shining shoes at the age of five and working alongside his mother and sister at the age of nine as migrant farmers near Denver, Colorado. He attended UTEP on a tennis scholarship and entered the United States Army as an officer where he rose through the ranks and fought for our country during the Vietnam War. His last post was as the Deputy Commander of Logistics in the First Army. He retired as a full Colonel in 1985. He went on to lead young men and women in the ROTC program in Denver, Colorado where he raised millions of dollars in scholarship funds for students to West Point and the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Colonel Vargas passed away of complications from a stroke on April 29, 2017 in Littleton, Colorado. He is survived by his former wife; Carmen Canales LaFarelle, two daughters; Kathryn Camp and Karen Vargas, as well as four grandchildren. He was respected and loved by many. His memorial will be held at Restlawn Cemetery where he will be buried alongside his mother and sister, in El Paso, Texas on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 9am.