Mr. Guadalupe Soto

Mr. Guadalupe Soto was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Guadalupe always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Guadalupe was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

      Guadalupe was born on February 19, 1948 at his childhood home in Del Rio, Texas. His parents were Jose and Feliz Soto. Guadalupe was raised in Del Rio, Texas. Always able to express himself well, Guadalupe possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Guadalupe was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Guadalupe was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Guadalupe was raised with 12 siblings. Jose Jr., Juanita, Fernando, Cecilia, Gregorio, Conrado, Arturo, Armando, Manuel, Humerto, Juan, David. Guadalupe had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      On May 26, 1973 Guadalupe exchanged wedding vows with Cynthia Ann Fisher at the Ft Jackson Chapel 3 of Ft Jackson, SC. Guadalupe was attentive to Cindy's feelings, and he charmed Cindy and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Guadalupe was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

      Very much like a kid himself, Guadalupe identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Guadalupe was blessed with four children, three sons, Darrell Brent, Guadalupe Jr., Scott , and one daughter Sally. He was also blessed with nine grandchildren, Jonathan, Colby, Gabriel, Victoria, Natalie, Eli, Caitlin, Benjamin, and Brianna.

      Guadalupe was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Guadalupe’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Guadalupe was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Guadalupe could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was fire fighter and security. He was in the army for 20 years, and fire fighter for 16 years at McEntire Air National Guard.

      Guadalupe was an Army veteran. Guadalupe was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He served 2+ tours in Vietnam, and was stationed stateside at Fort Jackson, Fort Hood, and Fort Eustis. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

      Guadalupe enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were gardening, and woodworking,. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with his grandkids.

      Guadalupe was an active member of the Boy Scouts as a Scout Leader. During this time he helped both Lupe Jr and Scott earn many badges and awards.

      Guadalupe held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member at Holy Trinity for 23 years and Mt Olive for 4 years. During the time at Holy Trinity he helped maintain the church grounds.

      Travel and vacations were experiences that Guadalupe truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included trips to see family in Texas and going to Florida for some fun at Disney World.

      Guadalupe was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. He always had pets in the house including many he personally brought home. His family was currently rounded out by two cats Graceson and Anna and his dog Ragan.

      Guadalupe’s retirement came in 1987 from the Army, and then in 2002 from McEntire Air National Guard. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life after the army, involved relocating with his family to Columbia South Carolina. In his later retirement, he found new pleasure in gardening and enjoying his grandchildren.

      Guadalupe passed away on March 9, 2015 at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina. Guadalupe fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by loving wife Cindy, his children Darrell (Caroline), Lupe Jr (Angelique), Sally (Shane), Scott (Christine) and his grandchildren Jonathan, Colby, Gabriel, Victoria, Natalie, Eli, Caitlin, Benjamin, and Brianna. Service were held at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Guadalupe was laid to rest in Serenity Gardens at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbia, SC.

      Guadalupe was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Guadalupe had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Mr. Guadalupe Soto.