Mr. Soto was born Aug. 19, 1944.
A native of Tracy, Mr. Soto attended Tracy schools and graduated in 1963 from Tracy High School. In high school, he was the 1961 Northern California wrestling champion in the 110-pound division, the first male cheerleader and active in drama, cross-country and pole-vaulting in track.
He earned an associate of arts degree from San Joaquin Delta College in 1968.
Mr. Soto started in the grocery business by working for Safeway in Tracy. He later moved to Virginia, where he worked in the insurance industry, operated a paint company and worked for a grocery store. In 1985, he opened his own small grocery store, Sandy Point Superette in Charles City, Va.
In Tracy, he was active in Tracy Community Players and Jaycees. In Virginia, he was a member of the Charles City Lions Club and was a supporter of wrestling, youth activities and scholarships at the local high school, and community programs of local churches.
Survivors include two sons, Shawn Soto of Ontario, Ore., and Ryan Soto of Richmond, Va.; a daughter, Thawny Soto of Norfolk, Va.; a step-daughter, Lisa Bennet Green of Virginia; his mother, Celia E. Dean of Tracy, his twin brother, Richard Soto of Tracy; three sisters, Dolores McNab de Soto of Richmond, Va., Elizabeth Dean White of Tracy and Kathy Dean Stanton of Clovis; and his companion, Celia Cortez of Williamsburg, Va.
Preceding him in death were his father, Ezequiel Soto, his step-father, Edwin E. Dean and sisters Graciela Sigala de Soto and Celia Pontod de Soto.
Mr. Soto was married to Betty Langley Woodard of Tracy and to Linda Montgomery Soto of Virginia, who died Dec. 25, 1995.
Memorial services were held in Williamsburg.
The family prefers memorial contributions in Mr. Soto’s name to the Hospice House & Support of Williamsburg, 4445 Powhatan Parkway, Williamsburg, VA 23188.