Arturo Froylan Soria

Arturo Froylan Soria, also known as Tuto or Artie, 60, peacefully passed away on Wednesday afternoon, March 28, 2007 at a local hospital where he was surrounded by his wife, son and daughter. Arturo was born in Leon, Gto., Mexico on April 28, 1946, the son of Arturo Soria and Amparo Mata. He came to the United States at the age of 15, attended schools in Topeka and Meriden, KS, was an army veteran of the Vietnam War and became a US citizen in 1975. He was first employed at Seymours Food. He retired as a cook foreman from the Colmery-ONeil VA Hospital on September 29, 2006 after twenty-eight years of employment. Arturo wanted the best for his family by emphasizing education as a key to a better life. He had a tremendous work ethic and was a dependable and responsible employee and fair supervisor who enjoyed working with his staff and the feeling was mutual. In his spare time, he enjoyed cooking and was very creative with his recipes. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and stepfather, Rito Valdivia. He married Rita Gutierrez in Chanute on May 2, 1970. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Robert A. Soria and his wife Nici, Topeka; daughter, Sonia A. Coley and her husband, Jorge, Minneapolis, MN; one granddaughter, Angelica Soria, Topeka; one sister, Julieta (Ray) Lopez, and one brother; three stepbrothers, Angel Valdivia, Rito Valdivia and Raymundo Valdivia and ten stepsisters Herlinda Holmes, Victoria Campos, Angelina Valdivia, Hazel Rocha, Pana Chavez, Lucy Martin, Carmen Torres, Susan Perez, Monica Matchett and Mary Ann Tejada. Arturo was cremated. A rosary will be prayed at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 2, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. at the Church. Inurnment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery with military honors provided by Ft. Riley. Contributions will be accepted for an educational scholarship fund to be established by the family in his memory and sent in care of the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Street, Topeka, KS 66603.