William “Bill” Vargas, aged 101 years, of Bristol, RI, peacefully passed away at home with his loving family by his side. A son of the late Manuel and Sadie (Silva) Vargas and the beloved husband of Eleanor (Pereira) Vargas, William was a lifelong resident of Bristol. He was the husband of the late Eleanor (Borges) Vargas.

William was a very proud American patriot who nobly served his country as a U.S. Navy sailor in World War II after graduating from high school. A large amount of William’s time in the Navy was spent on the U.S. aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Bunker Hill (CV-17). Those who knew Bill know that he was honored to have served his time and country and would humbly reflect on the day that two kamikazes struck the warship, forcing him to fight fire for three days in order to survive. Once returning to civilian life, William’s courage did not halt; he served on the Bristol Fire Department, EverReady Engine 2, from 1947 until his retirement. It was when he was serving in the Bristol Fire Department where he was known as “Willie” by his fellow companions. Willie was proud to be such a dedicated life-long Bristolian. He served as the Deputy Chief and was also on the Board of Engineers. He was awarded a medal for being the oldest living member of Bristol Fire and Fire Police and was the only person in the force to receive a 70-year plate, recognizing his many years of service. At the time, Willie had the benefit of living next door to the fire station, so nobody sprung into action and arrived faster than he did. Later in his life, Bill would enjoy telling all of his old war stories, as well as many fond memories from his younger days.

Besides being known for his notorious love of single-malt scotch, Bill had many other pastimes that he would enjoy. In his free time, Bill liked to keep active and would walk 3 miles a day along the Bristol bike path well into his old age. He loved the New England Patriots and would seldom miss watching them play. Bill was known as a history enthusiast as a result of his heroic patriotism and military background, and he was, fortunately, able to experience many monumental trips. Some of his favorite trips included Washington D.C., where he was honored as a WWII veteran with Honor Flight New England. He was able to experience the national war memorials for those who served throughout the years, as well as Arlington National Cemetery. He also had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which was a compelling moment for him, having served in the Pacific Theater. Apart from his commendable military trips, Bill also went on many vacations with his family- even at 98 years of age, when he was snorkeling in the waters of Jamaica. Willie loved to celebrate festivities and holidays, such as the 4th of July, and would always make an appearance at any such events. Most of all, William loved spending time with his family, especially his many grandchildren.

In addition to his loving wife, Eleanor, William is survived by his stepson, Eric Tarvis, and his wife Cheryl of Riverside, RI; his stepdaughters, Deborah Phaneuf of Wakefield, RI, Lucretia Cardin of Narragansett, RI, and Tamara Bannon and her husband William of Staten Island, NY. Bill was best known as ‘Grandpa’ by his ten grandchildren, Tara Tarvis, Meghan Tarvis, Edward Cardin III, Robert Phaneuf, Nicholas Phaneuf, Elisha Cardin, Reese Bannon, Autumn Bannon, Luciana Bannon, and Austin Bannon, along with one great-grandchild on the way, as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister-in-laws, Elizabeth Mello and Chris Vargas. He was the father of the late Robin Vargas and the brother of the late Joseph Vargas and Sadie Zufelt.

Services are with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Rd. Warren, RI, where the family will receive relatives and guests for visitation on Thursday, December 28, 2023, from 4- 7 PM. The funeral will be held on Friday, December 29, 2023, beginning at 8 AM, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9 AM in St. Elizabeth’s Church, 577 Wood St. Bristol, RI. A burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut St., Bristol, RI.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in William’s honor to Rhode Island Veterans Affairs, 830 Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI 02908.

For directions or tributes, please visit: www.wjsmithfh.com.