ARTHUR "ART" VARGAS, JR.

Vigil services for Arthur "Art" Vargas, Jr., 51, of Lompoc, will be at 7 pm, Thursday, October 22, 2009, in the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. Father Richard Vega will celebrate the funeral mass at 10 am, Friday, October 23, at La Purisima Catholic Church. Private burial will be at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.

A native of Lompoc, Arthur was born August 5, 1958, to Arthur and Emily Vargas. Art was raised and educated in Lompoc and started working at his family's business, Vargas Jewelers, at age 16. After graduating from Lompoc High School in 1976, he attended jewelry college in Santa Monica and has since worked at the jewelry store for the last 35 years.

Art was outgoing and had many ambitions and talents. He enjoyed designing and fabricating his own custom barbecue pits. He liked bowling, NASCAR, drag racing and camping. Art belonged to the Lompoc Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge, the Lompoc High School Alumni Association, and the River Bottom Gang.

He died Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Lompoc Valley Medical Center.

Survivors (spouses) include his wife of 28 years, Tami Vargas, son Ryan Arthur Vargas, daughter Allison Emily Vargas, mother, Emily Vargas-Smith, father Arthur Vargas, Sr., stepfather Ralph Smith, sisters Gloria (Mike) Shelton and Carmen Vargas and her companion John Phillips, father-in-law and mother-in-law Bill and Arlene Rule, brother-in-law Ron (Sherri) Rule, sister-in-law Teri (John) Silva, special family member Celeste Robles, special companions Kane and Kobe, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and oh so many friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents.

Visitation hours will be Thursday, October 22, from 6 to 8 pm, at the mortuary.

Donations may be made in his name to a charity of choice.