Rumaldo "Ray" A. Vargas

Rumaldo “Ray” Vargas, 90, of Amarillo, TX, died Sunday, March 9th, 2025.

Services will be at 1:00 P.M., on Friday, March 14th, 2025 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd, with Father John Valdez of St. Thomas the Apostle officiating. Viewing will begin at the chapel at 12:15, prior to the service.

Rumaldo Vargas was born on October 21, 1934 to John T and Andreita Vargas in Clayton, NM. He graduated from Clayton High School in 1953. Prior to graduating he met the love of his life, Cecilia Montoya, and they became high school sweethearts. Ray waited 3 years for Cecilia to graduate. They then married in 1956 and were lovingly married for 68 years. They had 3 wonderful children; Karen, Michael and Celia.

Months after getting married, Ray was drafted into the military. He served honorably in the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss in the Guided Missiles Training Center. He was honorably discharged in March of 1963. Ray and Cecilia re-located back to Clayton where he continued a career with the United States Postal Service. Ray and his family soon moved to Amarillo, TX where he later retired from the USPS in 1990 after 36 years.

Ray loved reading his newspaper every day, doing artwork painting and feeding his birds daily, even in the worst of weather. He enjoyed playing bingo and tanning in the sun. He owned many old cars and trucks and was especially proud of his 2005 Chevy Silverado SS. In his early years as a young boy and teenager, Ray enjoyed spending his summers working as a ranch hand at his uncle’s ranch and for various ranchers in the Clapham community. Most of all, Ray loved his family dearly.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father, and son, Michael. He is survived by his wife, Cecilia, and two daughters, Karen Vargas and Celia Vargas of Amarillo.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff members in the CLC unit at the Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center. Ray and his family appreciate the compassionate care given by the many staff members which includes, but not limited to, the aides, nurses, specialists, and doctors who made each day easier. Many members became an extension of the family.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Center of Development and Civic Engagement at the Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center.