Frank P. Wargo's Obituary
Frank Paul Wargo, age 96, of Tacoma, WA, died peacefully April 9, 2006 at Franciscan Hospice House, surrounded by his family. Frank was born Nov. 10, 1909, in Early Station, North Carolina to Frank Paul and Elizabeth Chutorosz Wargo. The family moved to Passaic, NJ, where Frank grew up as the second of five brothers and sisters, and developed his Jersey accent. In 1928 at age 19 he enlisted in the Navy. He made the Navy his career, and traveled the world. For a time he was stationed on the USS Ironsides in Boston Harbor. He served during WWII as an engineer on troop transports and destroyers in both the Pacific and Atlantic. His destroyer had just left Pearl Harbor the day before the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. He worked his way up through the ranks, and retired in 1948 as Chief Warrant Officer. During the Korean Conflict he was recalled to train troops in San Diego. His nephew by marriage, Warren Mohn, was one of the Navy recruits there, and recalls that FrankÂ's strong sense of discipline helped his units routinely earn the highest merit awards, the most guidon flags, the most forward position in the parade marches. Frank left the Navy in 1954 and spent the remainder of his working years as a boiler fireman in the steam plant at McChord AFB, finally retiring in 1974 after 46 years of government service. During the early 1930Â's, while FrankÂ's ship was anchored in Tacoma, he went on shore leave dressed in his Navy uniform. He must have made a good impression on Beatrice Winifred Mohn and her mother Matilda, who gave permission for the two to see each other. They married in 1933, with Bea and Frank meeting at his various ports of call in the ensuing years, using a special code they developed during those days of secrecy to inform Bea where he would be landing. Frank and Bea later had two daughters, Julie Rae and Janis Mari. Beatrice predeceased Frank, passing away in 1983 after 50 years of marriage. Brother Bert, and sisters Julia and Elizabeth, as well as brother-in-law and best friend Bill Talish, all predeceased Frank.Frank is survived by his sister Irma Talish of Seneca, SC, his sister-in-law Mary Wargo of Redondo Beach, CA, daughters Julie R. (Clark) Deem of Tacoma, with whom Frank lived in his last years, Janis Robinson and husband Tom Eads of Tacoma, grandchildren Heather (Tony) Hauenstein, Leah Robinson, and Andrew Deem, five great- grandchildren, Frank, Alyeana, Elia, Sarah, and Emily, and by numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. Family meant everything to Frank, and he greatly mourned the loss of his grandson Lloyd Anthony Robinson in July 2004. Frank was a fixit man, loved to tinker, do auto repair, grow corn, watch the Mariners and Andy Rooney, do puzzles, play bingo at the VFW, and play and read with his great-grandchildren. He will be missed by all his loving family, who were blessed to have Papa Frank in their lives for so many years.Memorial service to honor FrankÂ's life will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, April 15, 2006 in the Mountain View Garden Chapel. In lieu of flowers, family requests remembrances be donated in FrankÂ's name to Franciscan Hospice House.
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