Obituary of Sotero Soto

Sotero Soto, a decorated combat engineer during the Korean War, died November 23, 2018, in Olympia, Washington, where he had lived for 46 years.

A fourth-generation Texan with Apache ancestors, he was born in 1928 to Benigno and Victoria Soto in Eagle Pass along the Rio Grande. He celebrated his 90^th birthday with friends and family last summer. A great storyteller, he loved sitting by a bonfire outside his home along the Littlerock Road, swapping stories with family and friends.

Sotero enlisted in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. Though he had only nine years of formal schooling, military tests revealed his exceptional intellect. He advanced from private to sergeant first class in the space of 14 months in heavy combat. The story of his experiences in combat was included in “Korea, The Forgotten War Remembered,” a book published by the Office of the Secretary of State in 2018. A panel celebrating his military achievements is also part of an exhibit now at the Karshner Museum in Puyallup.

Honorably discharged in 1953, Soto returned to Texas and on January 29, 1956, married Esther Barrera. They were married for 62 years.

After years as a truck driver and working in heavy construction, Sotero received a call in 1972 from a friend who owned Moreno’s, one of Thurston County’s first Hispanic restaurants. Saying he needed help, the friend sent Soto a plane ticket. The Sotos soon became Washingtonians. Later, while working at Olympia’s landmark Oyster House, Sotero impressed Olympia School District administrators with his industriousness and friendly demeanor. He went on to retire as a custodian for the district. He loved his job—especially being around generations of school children.

Other survivors include eight daughters: Diana Perez, Hilda Smith (husband, Bruce), Sylvia Soto, Maria “Becky” Soto-Ortiz (husband, Ramon), Selina Soto, Selma Soto, Sara Wibmer (husband, Kurt) and Sue Soto; five siblings, Adolfo Soto, Estela Sanchez, Guadalupe Roque, Juan Soto, and Ninfa Soto; 14 grandchildren, Ismael Perez Jr., Javier Smith, Ofelia Hernandez, Omar Perez, Sebastian Soto, Olivia Smith, Sonya Soto, Julia Soto, Talisa Wibmer, Mario Escalera, Austin Wibmer, Marquez Escalera, Izavel Ortiz and Isela Soto; 11 great-grandchildren, Elycia, Bruce, Josiah, Sebastian Jr., William, Micah, Henry, Jacob, Sophia, Thomas, and Mahlikai.

Sotero was a member of the American Legion having served on its Color Guard. He was a Life Member of VFW Post 11402.