John Francis Vigare

John Francis Vigare, 86, died Wednesday, July 15, 2021, peacefully at UTMB Victory Lakes Hospital with his daughter Deborah Vigare-Benefield by his side. He was born in Westphalia, Kansas on May 13, 1935 to Felix and Philomeno Vigare. Straight out of high school, John enlisted in the Navy to honor his country. John proudly served on the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War he made his way down to Texas. John proudly spent his career as a Software Engineer supporting the Mission Control Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center. He worked on the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle programs. He started his career with Philco and retired March 2001 from United Space Alliance. He loved family, travelling, gardening and was a huge sports fan. He loved the Houston Cougars and the Houston Astros.

He is preceded in death by his wife Annette and stepsons Eric and Carl. He is survived by daughter, Deborah Vigare-Benefield and husband James Benefield and their children Ella and Ethan; his grandaughter Erica Bullard and husband Michael and their children Ian, Olivia and Silas; and grandson Michael Shepler and wife Taeseaun and their children Jordan, Reagan and Aspen.

A Memorial Service will be followed by an Honor Guard burial on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The service will take place at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home and Cemetery. The address is 6900 Lawndale Street, Houston, Texas 77023.