Ihla Briggs Wetzel Vargo *
COLUMBIANA – Ihla Rae (Briggs) Wetzel Vargo, 92, of 937 East Park Avenue, Columbiana passed away Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Whispering Pines. The Angels came down from Heaven and took to her Heavenly Home where she will join those family members and friends who have gone on before her.
She was born May 30, 1925 in Salem, the daughter of the late Royce and Elsie (Calladine) Briggs and lived in this area all her life.
Ihla Rae was a member of Jerusalem Lutheran Church in Columbiana, where she was a member of the Church Council, serving on the Financial Board and the Visitation Committee.
She was a graduate of Leetonia High School of the Class of 1943. Ihla Rae was a volunteer in the Surgical Waiting Room at the Salem Community Hospital and a member of the SCH Auxiliary and worked on all their monthly fund raisers. She also was a Volunteer for the RSVP program. Ihla Rae previously worked at U. S. Can (Ballonoff) Company, Columbiana and recently at the Chelsea Morning Tea Room in Columbiana. Ihla Rae was also a certified Volunteer of the Hospice Program caring for several patients.
Her first husband, Raymond H. Wetzel, whom she married in July 17,1947, preceded her in death in December 13, 1975. Her second husband, Robert S. Vargo, whom she married June 8, 1962, preceded her in death, January 29, 1978.
Left to cherish her memory, her daughter, Susan (John) Frenger of Columbiana, her son, Randy (Debbie) Wetzel of Willoughby; four grandchildren, Renae (Chris) Morlan, Lindsay Wetzel, Sara (KC) Eyman, and Raymond Wetzel; great-grandsons, Hayden Morlan and Lukas Morlan, a sister, Helen Mancuso of Springdale; a nephew, Steven Mancuso of West Chester and several cousins.
Private burial, beside her husband, will be in the Columbiana Cemetery.