Dash Between: Turk Vargo made Hungarian noodles and more at Magyar UCC

Turk Vargo, whose Hungarian-immigrant parents named him Julius Eugene Vargo, volunteered with the Dorcas Guild's weekly noodle-making operation at Magyar United Church of Christ in Elyria, Ohio.

The former production manager, who retired from the Cleveland Alloy Castings division of Lindberg Corporation in Berea, Ohio, was known for baking scrumptious tortes, stuffed cabbage, paprikash and other Hungarian dishes.

"He was a fabulous cook," said his sister, Vilma. "He could have opened a restaurant."

Turk learned about cooking from his mother.

"We always watched our mother cook," his sister said. "She would wake up in the morning and say, 'What are we having for dinner?' She'd order the best meat in town. She'd always buy good food. I would come home from school. She would have the entire dining room filled with six different kinds of noodles. She baked every day. She died in ’67, and people still talk about her cooking."

Turk grew up in the Hungarian enclave of Elyria's Western Heights neighborhood.

Learn how Turk got his nickname, the many ways in which he helped others and how he met his wife, Eleanor, in "The Dash Between" feature in the November 7, 2010, edition of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.

Click here to read about "The Dash Between" July 8, 1930, when Turk was born in Elyria, and August 14, 2010, when he died at age 80, and view more than 20 photos provided by his family.