Flavio Vargas

Dr. Flavio O. Vargas went home to our heavenly father on Wednesday, August 17th, 2022. Born in 1928 in Lima, Peru, South America. Flavio earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of La Molina in 1955 in Lima Peru, received a Rockefeller Scholarship for his Master’s degree in Entomology from North Carolina State University in 1960, and a PhD in Plant Pathology from North Carolina State University in 1966. Flavio wrote many books and publications while completing his doctoral degree.

Dr. Vargas graduated with honors and went on to become an educator at North Carolina State University and also worked for many years in Agricultural Research and Development in countries in South America and Europe.  Flavio was also a devoted catholic. As a doctoral candidate in the early 1960’s, he assisted his parish in organizing the first of many Cursillos in Spanish.

After receiving his PhD, Dr. Vargas returned to his home in Peru. In Peru, Flavio served as Executive Director of Agricultural Research and Development and continued his work as a committed Christian man and received his nomination as “Pastoral Agent” in the Archdiocese of Lima.

Returning to North Carolina in 1985, Flavio joined the cathedral parish in Raleigh NC, instituted and chaired the RENEW spiritual renewal program for Latinos for the Diocese of Raleigh. For many years, Flavio was instrumental in the building of the Latino community within the diocese of Raleigh. He was also a member of the Seminarian Formation Committee as an advocate for the Spanish speaking seminarians. Flavio worked in the Cursillo movement, prison ministry, a teacher of Spanish for the diocesan personnel and many other activities on a parish level as lay minister, lector, Eucharistic minister, catechist and generously offered his services in whatever other way he might serve his community, his parish, and the Diocese of Raleigh.

Flavio loved to read a variety of academic books and publications.  The last book he wrote was ‘Mi Verdad”, an Exposition of his Spiritual Life. Flavio’s concern for others extended to a generous heart for those less fortunate and resulted in daily examples of direct charity to the community and his donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital . In all his endeavors he demonstrated a loyalty to the purposes of the Church, a commitment to the pastoral care of souls and a deep concern to the needs of the Latino community.

Flavio was survived by four adult children Ozzie Vargas (Asheville, NC), Joy Bell (Orlando, FL), Sofia Baucom (Holly Springs, NC), Jorge Vargas (Raleigh, NC), nine grandchildren Cristina, Michael, Anthony, Giovanni, Mariana, Diego, Giuliana, Mateo, and Nicholas, three great grandchildren Olivia, Jameson, and Matthew, and a brother Francisco Vargas of Lima, Peru.

The care of Mr. Vargas has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Candler.