Julia Soto Balboa

Julia Soto Balboa

1941 - 2023

Julia Soto Balboa passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 15, 2023, in North Richland Hills, Texas. She was born on August 17, 1941, to her parents, Lorenzo Soto and Gumercinda Pitre in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico.

Julia grew up in Puerto Rico, the 3rd eldest of 10 children.  After the passing of her mother, her father remarried and had 5 more children. From a young age, Julia grew up Catholic, but after marrying her husband, Robert Finley, in Puerto Rico, she and her family started attending the Baptist church. The couple left Puerto Rico in 1963 and ultimately divorced in 1971. Julia then went on to meet and marry Joel Balboa in 1972; he quickly became a loving and caring step-father.

Julia worked in a Cookie Factory in Longview, Texas for a few years. She also worked at a fiber glass company that made church steeples in Henderson, Texas, prior to starting her nurse’s aid career. Julia worked in Henderson Nursing Home for several years and then she moved to the Fort Worth area and worked for Alterra House in Watauga, Texas where she retired in 2008.

Julia did not go to school, but she had a lot to teach her family; she was street smart and tough.  She taught herself English by watching TV. She was always on the go. Julia worked at least 2 jobs at a time and took care of her grandchildren. She was a very hard-working woman.  Julia was so giving to her friends, family and even people she had just met.  She would give you the shirt off her back or be the first to lend her last dollar.  She loved to laugh, socialize, cook and dance.  Anyone that knew her would know that she liked to dress very colorfully and paint her own nails with red polka dots.  She loved anything that sparkled and Betty Boop.  Julia absolutely loved roses. Wherever she lived, the first thing she did was plant roses because like her, they are tough and beautiful.

Julia was preceded in death by her daughter, Isabel (Liz) Prock.

She will be deeply and lovingly missed by her children,  Sharon Johnson and her husband, Dave, Richard (Tony) Finley and his wife, Maureen, and Joel Jr. Balboa and his wife, Vianey; her grandchildren, Christy Adams, Gavin Coplin, Shane Owens, Danielle Randolph, David Johnson, Linda Duran, Romeo Balboa, Alyssa Balboa, Jocelyn Balboa, and Marissa Balboa; great-grandchildren, Aaron (AJ) Etzler Jr, Haley Bland, Michael Bland, Phoenix Coplin, Mason Coplin, Kyleigh Coplin, Kaden Keiser, Maisey Johnson, Angelo Duran, Cheyenne Johnson, and Mechaela Kimbrell; her great great-grandchildren, Aryann Brimhall, Grace Brimhall, Abigail Brimhall, and Caeleb Bland; along with other loving family members and dear friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, beginning at 2:00 PM at Roberts-Martinez Funeral Home Chapel. 

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