Jesse Soriano Vasquez

On Saturday, March 12, 2022, Jesse Soriano Vasquez, loving husband and father of three, passed away at age 88.
Jesse, was born on February 5, 1934 in San Antonio, TX to Francisco and Hilaria Vasquez. He was one of eleven children. After graduating from Fox Tech High School in San Antonio, he started his military career by enlisting in the United States Army. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Battalion, Companies E, H, QM. He was awarded a Senior Parachutist Badge. After his Army service, Jesse went to college and graduated from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas with a teaching degree in History and Mathematics. He became a teacher and taught at Irving Middle School for several years. He continued serving the military in the Texas National Guard during his teaching years. When the Vietnam War escalated he joined the United Air Force and went to Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois for Officer Training School. After receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant he continued at Chanute as an instructor. He went to Lackland AFB and then was assigned to go to Vietnam and fight in the war. He returned to Lackland AFB and was later assigned to Clark Air Base in the Philippines. After that tour, he was transferred to Tinker AFB. From Tinker AFB he was transferred to Korat, Thailand as the Vietnam War winded down. He returned to Tinker AFB where he achieved the rank Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) when he retired. After his military career ended he continued working with the Department of Defense at Tinker AFB and retired as Lead Program Manager for the B-1 aircraft.
In 1957, he married the love of his life Eva (Valdez) and was happily married for 64 years. Jesse had a few priorities in life: our Lord, Jesus Christ, his family and our country. After that, it was sports, whether it was playing baseball as a kid in the corner lot or watching sports on television and cheering for the Oklahoma teams.
He was a long time Third Degree Knight for the Knights of Columbus. He was very active with the church whether teaching Sunday School, being a Eucharistic Minister, or other stewardships. He spent many years supporting the Boy Scouts of America as an adult leader and eventually Scoutmaster for Troop 122 of the St. Philip Neri Knights of Columbus often providing camping experience and guidance to the boys including his two sons that achieved Eagle Rank.
He is survived by his wife, Eva, three children: Eva Marie Maerten (husband Ken), Phillip Vasquez (wife Jennifer), and Mark Vasquez (wife Laurie), three siblings (Frank Vasquez (wife Delores), Albert Vasquez (wife Janie) and Rosie Luna (husband Joe)), twelve grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews.
Visitation is scheduled for 12-8pm, on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home on Douglas Blvd in Midwest City. A Rosary Service is scheduled for 6pm in the Barnes Friederich Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, March 17, 2022. Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church on Felix Blvd in Midwest City at 10:30 am on Friday, March 18, 2022 with burial to follow at St. Martins Cemetery.