James Gerald Soto

It is with profound sadness that the family of James Gerald “Jerry” Soto announces his passing on July 7, 2026, at the age of 85.

Jerry was born on February 13, 1941, in Porterville, California. As a young child, he was adopted by the late Dr. Raul C. Soto and his wife Catherine in El Paso, Texas. Throughout his life, he lived in West Texas, Mexico, Southern California, and eventually Noblesville, Indiana.

As a young man, Jerry served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

After completing his service in the Marine Corps, Jerry returned to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, in 1967, where he met his future wife, Maria Antonieta Amaya, while attending the wedding reception of Hilda Mascarenas and Salvador Blancas. Their romance blossomed quickly, and Jerry and Maria Antonieta were married on July 4, 1968. They shared 58 years together, raising three children: Jaime, Carlos, and Lorena.

Jerry and Maria Antonieta resided in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, from 1968 to 1974; Midland, Texas, from 1974 to 1986; Chula Vista, California, from 1986 to 2017; and Noblesville, Indiana, from 2017 to 2026.

Jerry started an electronics repair business in Midland, Texas, later opening retail electronics stores. In the mid-1980s, he moved his family to San Diego, California, where he founded a software development company that his son Jaime later joined and eventually took over.

After retiring in 2014, Jerry enjoyed pursuing photography, woodworking, and astronomy. Following his move to Noblesville in 2017, he continued enjoying the hobbies that had long been his passion.

Jerry is survived by his beloved wife, Maria Antonieta; his three children, Jaime Soto and his spouse, Wendy Soto; Carlos Soto; and Lorena Lane and her spouse, Mathew Lane; his grandchildren, Ryan Soto and his fiancée, Martha Yañez; Kyle Soto and his spouse, Marielle Soto; Jonah Lane and his spouse, Ann Lane; Elijah Lane; and Sophia Soto-Berryessa; his brother, Raul Soto and his spouse, Mary Beth Soto; his sisters, Elizabeth Ramos and her spouse, Jose Arturo Ramos, and Laura Soto Gomez; as well as many extended family members and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Raul C. Soto and Catherine Soto, and his sister, Rosemary Soto.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 9900 E. 191st St., Noblesville, IN 46060, on July 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., with a Gathering from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The family requests that memorial donations be made in Jerry’s memory to the Maritime Museum of San Diego, a place that fueled his passion for maritime photography.