Soto Peter De

Peter De Soto

January 25, 1934 - September 30, 2024

Peter P. De Soto passed away at home of natural causes, on September 30, 2024, with his family and friends by his side.

Born on January 25, 1934 in Valdez, Colorado, he is preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Margaret De Soto, his wife, Pegi, and his sisters, Alberta Terrones and Gloria Aguilar.

A longtime resident of Lompoc, Pete graduated from Lompoc High School in 1952 as Class President. Went on to Santa Maria (Hancock) Junior College, where he was the Student Body President. He decided to enlist and serve our country in the Navy Medical Service Corps as a Hospital Corpsman. He came home to Lompoc and made his career at Manville/Celite Corporation, innovating the transportation of celite and retired after 35 years as the Manager of Corporate Purchasing. He was also Chairman of the Institute of Packaging Professionals. After retirement, Pete became a small business owner; Principal Solutions was a packaging business he started and also owned and operated the Mutt Hut dog grooming shop for many years. He and Pegi loved to show off their car, the '56 T-Bird, in numerous car club runs and events over the years. Pete was the President and a founding member of the Lompoc Valley Kennel Club and he was a nationally recognized show judge, and dog handler. Pete was instrumental in producing the Lompoc Valley Kennel Club Dog Show every year in July for almost 50 years. He was very proud of how the dog show benefitted his home town, the City of Lompoc and of the many friends and volunteers who worked with him every year on the dog show. Obviously, Pete had always contributed to whatever he was involved with, whether it was his work, his community or his family.

He is survived by his children, Laura (Greg) De Mars, and Keith (Thérese) Humphrey, his brother- in- law, Peter (Gloria) Aguilar as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends

We would like to thank Dad's caregiver, Mayra Garcia for all her years of dedication, care and support to our dad, Dr. David Lemmel at the Lompoc Valley Medical Center and the wonderful nurses of VNA Health Hospice who cared for him during his last days.

No services are planned at his request. Condolences can be written on the Legacy.com, website.