VIRGINIA HERNANDEZ SOTO

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Virginia Hernandez Soto, 85, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, at home.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. The Reverend Chris Weber will officiate. Burial will take place in Greenwood Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m., on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the funeral home. A Rosary Prayer Service will be held at 6:00 p.m., following the visitation, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family.

Virginia was born on March 23, 1940, in Brady, Texas, the daughter of Manuel and Aurelia Rodriguez Hernandez. She married Eugenio R. Soto in 1955, in Brady, Texas. He preceded her in death in 1997.

Virginia was a member of the Ss. Mary Mathias Parish. Her favorite things were cooking, gardening, and going to the casino. She was known by all for her cooking. She enjoyed celebrating family birthdays and loved her grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Sally Gonzalez, Eugenio ‘Gene’ Soto (Cynthia), Consuelo ‘Connie’ Soto Celestino, Maggie Aguilar (Greg), and Pablo ‘Paul’ Soto (Mari); 21 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; and one sister, Lucy Menchaca (Jimmy).

Virginia is preceded in death by her daughter, Manuela Zapata; her husband, Eugenio; her parents, Manuel and Aurelia; a daughter in infancy, Petra; two sisters, Benita and Margarita; and three brothers, Vicente, Richard, and Manuel.