Antonio Soza

Antonio Valenzuela Soza
17 December 1927 – 22 October 2021
“Papa” was born on 17 December, 1927, at the Soza Ranch in Cascabel, Arizona. During the depression years his family relocated to the Los Angeles area. He attended Cathedral High School. Before finishing, he joined the Merchant Marines, serving from 1945-48. After a short stint with the Union Pacific Railroad (December 1948 to December 1950), he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1950-72, with a short break in service; retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer. He is thus a veteran of both World War II (as an Able Seaman, serving aboard a number of victory ships in the Pacific) and Korea (as a section leader of an anti
aircraft artillery unit in the 8th Army).
During his military service, Papa was with the 25th Infantry Division, where he helped form the division pistol team. From there he was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, at Fort Benning, Georgia; becoming a member of the U.S. International Team, which traveled to Rio de Janeiro in July, 1961 to compete in the 5th CISM Tournament. There he captured five gold medals and one bronze, and set a new record in the Slow Bore, Slow Fire Pistol Match; he captured the Precision Center Fire Pistol Championship, later becoming a member of the elite “2600 Club.” In September, 1961, he attended the Army Air Defense School at Fort Bliss, Texas, to learn the workings of the Nike Hercules missile system, working in the fire direction center. His assignments from there took him to New Jersey, Korea, and Florida. In July 1969, he accepted a promotion to Warrant Officer and took his family out to the High Desert of California, where he was instrumental in his unit’s receiving “the highest score awarded to any Regular Army Battery in the U.S. Army Air Defense Command for the year 1971.” He retired in 1972.
Practically the next day, Antonio began working for Pacific Bell in Palmdale, California; accepting an early retirement from there in 1983. In that same time period, he was elected Vice-Mayor of the City of Palmdale from 1976 to 1984. He also held temporary positions as Electronics Instructor at Antelope Valley Community College, and President of Kiwanis International, Palmdale Joshua Club (1982-83). In 1984, Antonio began his third career working as Senior Test Data Systems Engineer at the Lockheed Research and Development Branch (Skunk Works) at Helendale, California, working on stealth technology. He retired from that position in 1993 and finally settled down to retired life at Silver Lakes, California. While there, he managed the horse stables for the Silver Lakes Equestrian Center for sixteen years. He was also a Life Member of TROA, DAV, VFW, and The Knights of Columbus.
Papa met Margaret “Margo” Escovedo in Los Angeles, California; and married her on 21 April 1951. They were life-long companions who made many sacrifices to provide for their children. Margo passed on 31 January 2012 after a long illness.
We remember Papa as a man of strong faith, generous in support of his larger family, proud of his heritage in the Hispanic community, and certainly always positive in times of adversity. He was never one to sit still; especially when he saw an opportunity to serve the community. In his final years, he volunteered with the Lord’s Table in Victorville, California, “washing the heavier pots and pans”. After relocating to Eugene, Oregon to be with his family, he did volunteer carpentry work for Saint Vincent de Paul’s. We, his children, proudly hold him up to others as an example of what a person can accomplish, even if they come from humble beginnings. Most important; he always gave the credit in all aspects of his life to God, where it rightly belongs.
Antonio is survived by his four children, Dr. Anthony Michael Soza; Mark Anthony Soza, Maj. US Army Retired (Kathleen); Suzan Soza (Daryn); Margo Soza James (Bill). Grandchildren: Anna James McConnell
(Brian); Peter Daniel James (Emily); John Michael Soza. Great Grandchildren: Lucy & Declan McConnell; Everette, Audrey & Ruth James.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to suggest memorial contributions in Antonio's name be made to either St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org);
Maryknoll Padres y Hermanos www.MaryknollSociety.org);
or Salesian Missions (www.SalesianMissions.org)
Graveside services will be held on Friday, December 17 at 1:30 pm. at Desert Lawn Memorial Park -2200 East Ave. S, Palmdale, California.