Obituary of Willis James Vargason

Willis James "Jim" Vargason, 86, passed away unexpectedly from heart failure on April 1, 2022, at Auburn Community Hospital, the day he was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital after being treated for a brief illness.

He was born in Mottville, NY to the late Willis Miller Vargason and late Lily Ann (Pitman) Vargason of Skaneateles, NY. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army as an Infantry Soldier stationed at Fort Dix, NJ, and was deployed to Germany during the Korean War. Willis was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and Expert Marksmanship Badge. After he was honorably discharged, he met the love of his life, Carole June Barrington, of Jordan, NY. They were happily married for 66 years.

Willis was a fixture at the Cato-Meridian Central School District, where he served 40 years as the district's Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. He retired in 1997.

He was widely known as a friendly man who was quick with a story that made you laugh. He loved sports and he rooted for S.U. basketball. He was baptized in a Methodist Church at age one, and he later reaffirmed his Christian faith in a baptism in 2000 at the Assembly of God Church in Clearwater, Florida.

Willis and Carole raised five boys, Rodney (Linda), Chris (Rhonda), Kenneth (pre-deceased), William (Theresa), and James (Anne). He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

There was a private family service on April 4, at Falardeau Funeral Home in Baldwinsville, NY.