In his youth he worked as a batboy and equipment manager with the Butler Yankees of the Class-D Pennsylvania State Association.

[3] In his second year in the NL, he was rated the neatest umpire in the league in a Sporting News poll of writers, managers and coaches.

[4] He married Elizabeth Joan (Betty) Hunter on February 9, 1963;[3] they had four children, sons Edward and David and daughters Karen and Kristin.

Vargo was also behind the plate on April 4, 1974, when Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth's record of 714 career home runs.

[8] After retiring from umpiring, Vargo became a National League supervisor until 1997; he was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.