David Juan Soto

“Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives. In that way, all those who come in contact with you will discover the loving kindness of God.” - St. Pope John Paul II

David Juan Soto, a shining light in our family and community, has been welcomed into God’s heavenly kingdom. We celebrate his life and the impact he had on so many.

“Something to crow about”, were the words written on the handmade birth announcement made by his father. David’s birth on June 24, 1940, in Chamberino, New Mexico, was announced to all by his parents, David and Aurelia B. Soto, and little did everyone know he would be the first born of 14 children total. He came from humble beginnings, growing up in Chamberino, attending Gadsden High School where he played for the Gadsden Panthers and graduating in May 23, 1958. Our dad was not a boastful person, never wanting the spotlight on him or his achievements. Well Dad, we’re here to shine a light on you and all you accomplished in your 85 years on earth.

David proudly signed up at the young age of 17, to serve his country in the U.S. Navy from May 1958 to May 1967, achieving the rank of RM1-Petty Officer First Class. He served in the submarine service aboard U.S. Navy submarines, the U.S.S. Volador (SS-490), the U.S.S. Raton (AGS-270) and the U.S.S. Pomodon (SS-486). His submarine service deployed him to various locations overseas, such as Japan, Guam, Philippines, and Thailand to name a few, leaving his young family behind for months at a time. It’s valuable to note, one of his deployments had him living and working in the submarine for a total of three months, never surfacing from below the ocean depths, a true testimony to the dedication and perseverance he and those serving beside him possessed. On January 7, 1960, while on board the U.S.S. Volador, he earned the right to wear the U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare Insignia (universally known as “dolphins” or “fish”). It is considered one of the Navy’s three major warfare badges and its’ oldest among the surface warfare badges and the naval aviation badge. To earn the right to wear the badge, he had to demonstrate detailed knowledge of all major systems aboard a submarine, including electrical, mechanical and life support systems. He was proficient in the damage control procedures, which were critical for submarine safety, such as firefighting and emergency responses to flooding or other hazards. Part of the qualification process included spending a significant amount of time out at sea. Earning the badge is a symbol of pride within the submarine community. He was extremely proud to have been certified as an Instructor on October 12, 1962, instructing young recruits from October 1962 through October 1965. If you knew David, he placed a high priority on education and reveled in imparting his knowledge to anyone who was willing and eager to learn. As a RM1 (Radioman-1) he was responsible for transmitting and receiving both coded (Morse code) and voice communications, sending and receiving encrypted messages and processing message traffic according to policy and procedures, interpreting coded messages and emergency signals, and ensuring clear command and control for naval forces. It was because of these responsibilities that he was granted, “TOP SECRET/CRYTO” clearance by the Navy in May of 1962. It is also worthy to note, David earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal for his service in the geographical theater areas of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The absolute prestigious highlight of his naval career occurred when on October 24, 1962, then President John F. Kennedy, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, signed a proclamation establishing a quarantine of Cuba in order to prevent the import of certain arms into Cuba by the Soviet Union to reduce the threat to the security of the United States and other nations of the hemisphere. One of the resultant actions was forming the Combined Latin American-U.S. Quarantine Task Force, Task Force 137, commanded by Commander South Atlantic Force, under the direct operational control of Commander in Chief, Atlantic. Task Force 137 was constituted on November 9, 1962 and was initially composed of ships from the Argentine, Venezuelan and United States Navies. It was during the period Task Force 137 was engaged in Cuban quarantine operations, David served as a member of a Communications-Liaison Team composed of an officer in charge, himself and one other radioman. He went to sea in the Venezuelan destroyer, ARV ZULIA and performed his duties in an extremely efficient and commendable manner, thereby bringing credit to the United States. He received a Letter of Commendation from the unit, Commander South Atlantic Force, by then Rear Admiral Upper Half, J.A. Tyree, Jr., officially commending the part he played in defending the United States and her Latin American neighbors. In as much as he was a dedicated and loyal service member, during a recent lunch with his children, he was asked why he didn’t make the Navy a career to which he stated, “because I got tired of coming home and you guys not knowing me.” Our dad truly loved us all. After proudly serving his country for nine years, David was Honorably Discharged on May 18, 1967.

After his time served in the military, David began his 30 year career with IBM in June 1967 in El Paso, Texas, as a Field Engineer. His career had him on assignments throughout the state of New Mexico and because he was always eager to learn (and computers were advancing at an exponential rate) he traveled to various states to attend training/educational seminars. In 1982, after all his children had graduated high school, David was transferred by IBM to Santa Fe, NM, where he worked an additional 15 years until his retirement in June 1997. While in Santa Fe, he was called upon to work at several U.S. government and state agencies, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory, Defense Supply Agency and General Services Department, State of NM. Upon his retirement, he worked a few part-time jobs that benefitted him first and foremost such as a nursery where he could work with plants or a golf course where he could drive around on a golf cart, scolding golfers and reminding them to follow the rules of the course! Plus, he could play golf for free! Our family would be remiss not to mention the day he hit a, ‘Hole-in-One’ at Cochiti Golf Course - and yes, there were witnesses! To this day, the golf ball still remains at home as a reminder.

It was during his time in the Navy, while on leave, he met the love of his life, Lupe. Together, they were blessed with 64 years of marriage and three children, nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. One would need to write a book to detail the memories they made over the 64 years they spent together. One thing he and our mom enjoyed was traveling and travel they did! Their adventures took them to Hawaii for a late honeymoon, a cruise to Alaska and international travel to the Bahamas, Spain, Italy, Morocco, Canada and Mexico. He proudly boasted that he had traveled and visited all 50 states in the U.S. Even though he was well traveled, the absolute best trips were when he and our mom would take to the road, driving the backroads to check out a restaurant, bar, museum, etc., that they had read about or heard about through family or friends. These special moments were theirs and theirs alone. If you had the pleasure of knowing our dad, you knew he loved a good ‘discussion’ with anyone who was willing to go the distance, but at the same time, a jokester who loved to laugh and joke with everyone. But if you REALLY knew our dad, you knew there was nothing better than having a cold IPA, (if you drank anything ‘light’ he’d tease, saying, ‘might as well be drinking water’) while sitting with family and friends, laughing, joking, sharing memories and talking about life or watching sports, especially his favorite team, the Green Bay Packers. Everyone who knew our dad knew he was a man of conviction, who savored life’s simple pleasures, but at the same time wouldn’t turn down the finer things in life, a man who possessed great intelligence, a history buff, and generous with anyone who needed anything. But the one thing he wasn’t generous with was our mom’s salsa and tortillas she made for him (us) from day one. There were so many times he would tease saying, ‘I’m running low, you can’t take any!’ He truly loved sitting with folks, imparting his knowledge through teaching or storytelling and was especially passionate to do this with our mom, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He had so many interests from being an avid coin collector, to planting vegetables, to cooking (he actually enrolled in a six-month cooking class), reading and watching sports. Our dad was an awesome baseball pitcher, from high school, to the Navy and beyond, a proud member of the VFW, prior member of the Jaycees and parishioner of St. Genevieve’s Catholic Church.

Those left to honor his memory and legacy are his beautiful, loving and devoted wife, Lupe, his three children who he was extremely proud of, David Soto (Veronica), Laura Molina (Dennis), and Sandra Soto. Grandchildren: Steven James Jaquez (Celena), Sonya Monique Jaquez, Xavier Joel Jaquez (Lisa), Amanda Nicole Gonzalez (Joey), Jordan Ryan De Luna (Esther), Sarah Renee Pirtle (Ethan), Denise Gaytan (Jacob), and DeAna Nañez and step-grandson, Jeff Molina. Great-grandchildren: Miguel Tomas, Julian Marcus, Brandon Jayce, Aiden Derek, Gabriela Grace, Layla Blu, Aria Rose - his consentida, Alejandro Gabriel, Issac Daniel, Sean David, Christina Maria, Tatiana Rose and Aurora Mai.

Siblings, Becky Diaz (Rudy), Alice Soto (John), Molly Hernandez (Smokey), Vivian Soto, Margaret Villalobos, Gracie Ramos (Adrian), Eduardo Soto (Veronica), Tomas Soto (Jay), and Michael Soto (Julie). Also, numerous sister and brother-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and an amazing community of friends who he enjoyed spending time and traveling with.

Those family members that welcomed him into Heaven with open arms are: his parents, David and Aurelia B. Soto, brother, Armando Soto, baby brother Eulogio Soto, brother, Lofi Soto, brother-in-law Luis Villalobos, sister, Lucy Dixon and great-granddaughter, Selena Nicole Gaytan.

Our family would love to express our utmost appreciation to Dr. Mai Oushy for taking care of mom’s husband and our dad - your caring and attentive disposition was one he respected and admired. We would also like say a very special, ‘thank you’ to Marci Dickerson and her amazing staff at The Game 2. You all were so amazingly wonderful to our dad for so many years and we know he loved each and every one of you.

A mass will be held at St. Genevieve’s on November 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to be followed by committal services at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. A reception will follow at The Game 2, where he was loved and respected by all, to share stories, lift a cold one and say, ‘CHEERS’ and a celebratory, ‘VAMOS LUPE’ to an amazing and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin and friend. Your beautiful smile and infectious laugh that was loved by so many will be missed. We love and miss you David/Dad, more than you could have ever imagined.