Guadalupe Cardona Vargas, a resident of Beaumont, was born on September 7, 1940 in Asherton, Texas. He was a son of Manuel Vargas, Sr. and Teodora Cardona Vargas.
He passed from his earthly life into the presence of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, October 12, 2019 at the age of 79.
A man of great faith, he and his wife, Cristina, participated in mission work with Mission Gethsemane in Carrizo Springs. In 1973, with First Baptist Church in Carrizo Springs serving as sponsoring church, they started Mission Bautista in Asherton where he served as Deacon. In 2004, he worked with First Baptist in Silsbee to start a Spanish Mission in Silsbee.
Through the years, Mr. and Mrs. Vargas have participated in mission endeavors in parts of south Texas, Mexico and Ecuador. These mission trips were been sponsored by several Baptist churches in the Golden Triangle area including South Park in Beaumont, Friendship in Beaumont, Pine Crest in Silsbee, First Baptist in Silsbee and Woodland in Beaumont. He would serve as translator for the English speaking missionaries.
Mr. Vargas was very involved with missions throughout the Golden Triangle Baptist Association participating in Vacation Bible Schools at Templo Bautista, Beaumont; the park at Angelina and 7th St. which was sponsored by Woodland Baptist, Beaumont and at the Spanish Mission, Silsbee.
He taught English as a Second Language classes at Friendship and Woodland Baptist Churches in Beaumont and First Baptist Church in Silsbee.
He helped translate for Spanish speaking families during hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike as well as at Baptist Hospital and Some Other Place in Beaumont.
Other interests of Mr. Vargas were the love of the Dallas Cowboys and coaching softball.
Mr. Vargas attended Uvalde Junior College and also took several theological courses through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He worked for 15 years with the Texas Migrant Council and then worked 28 years as an office assistant and translator for the law office of Gilbert T. Adams, LLP.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Teodora and Manuel Vargas, Sr.; brother, Manuel Vargas, Jr. and sisters, Ellena Sifuentez and Enriqueta Vargas.
He will forever be remembered by his wife, Cristina Vargas of Beaumont; children, Dimas Vargas and wife, Martha of Houston, Priscilla Gilbert of Sugar Land, Noel Vargas and wife, Francesca of College Station, Donnetta Potato and husband, Robert of Beaumont, Donna Jacobs and husband, Troy of Bedford, Constance Vargas and Steven of Hutto, Amber Vargas of Round Rock and Lorietta Thompson and husband, James of Beaumont; sisters, Estella Hernandez of Asherton, Delia Cano of Hereford, Alicia Vargas of Asherton; grandchildren, Kaitlynn Herron and husband, Tim, Jeremy Vargas, Misti Vargas, Nicole Hunter and husband, David, Nathan Gilbert, Josué Vargas, Alexis Ortiz and husband, Jonathan; 18 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to a visitation with the family from 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont. A time of reflection and sharing of memories will follow at 7:00 p.m.
The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2019 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont with Reverend James Blackwell and Reverend Eric House, officiating.
Interment will follow at Claybar Haven of Rest Cemetery in Beaumont.
Serving as pallbearers will Josué Vargas, Nathan Gilbert, Ezekiel Vargas, Preston Vargas O’Quinn, Joel Hernandez, Gabriel Hernandez, Tyler Vargas and Jeremy Vargas.
Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Potato, Troy Jacobs, James Thompson, Stephen O’Quinn, Gabriel Vargas, Isaac Potato, Jensen Jacobs, Hayden Hunter and Ethan Hunter.