Elva Maria Soriano Medina died May 17, 2014 due to complications associated with renal disease. Elva was born on April 5, 1927 in Veracruz, Mexico, and moved to San Luis Potosi as a child and grew up there. She was preceded in death by her husband, I.F. "Chico" Medina, who passed away in February of 2013. She and Chico decided to immigrate to the United States in 1953. She joined her husband in late 1953, after he had moved to the United States and found employment. Elva's independence and determination were demonstrated when she moved to the United States with her infant daughter, Lucy, and limited resources, to join her husband. She had confidence that a new beginning in the United States, through hard work, faith, and perseverance, would afford their children a better future. Staying home when the children were growing up, she would later go on to work for Dorsett Electronics and Badger Meter, Inc. While working at Dorsett Electronics, she was part of a team that was certified by NASA to do precision electronic assembly work that would be used in the NASA space programs. In addition, she worked as a Spanish translator during this period.

Elva was devoted to her husband and children and will be remembered for her love and support of them. She was also was a doting grandmother, who kept up with her grandchildren's activities, including Facebook. Elva Soriano was married to I.F. (Chilo) Medina in 1950 in San Luis Potosi. The couple celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in October, 2012.

Elva studied bookkeeping and accounting at University while in Mexico. She would continue her studies and excel in classes at Tulsa Junior College and the University of Tulsa. She initially was self- taught in English, later taking formal English classes in school. Perhaps one of her proudest accomplishments was becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. This process was arduous, but one she completed with much pride and joy. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in March, 1963. This was yet another example of her character and perseverance. Elva was very grateful for the opportunities that immigrating to the United States had provided to her and her family.

Elva and Isidro chose to live modestly, in order to enable their children to attend Catholic elementary school and Catholic high school. In addition, they were able to send all three children to the University of Oklahoma, and further support their daughter, Lucy, to attend Harvard Medical School. They were also devout in the Catholic faith, having numerous patron Saints, in particular St. Jude and St. Gerard.

She is survived by her sister, Victoria Soriano Saenz de Serrano, her brother, Manuel Soriano Saenz, both of Mexico, and three children, M. Lucia Medina, M.D. and her husband Wayne Yerkes, of Mill Creek, Washington; Jerry Medina and Kathy Wagner Medina of Norman; and Louis Medina and his wife, Kathy, of Tulsa. In addition, she is survived by ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

A Rosary service will be held Monday, May 26, at 6:00 P.M. at Fitzgerald's Ivy Chapel, 1402 South Boulder, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 27, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 1419 N. 67th East Avenue, Tulsa, at 10:30 A.M.

Friends and relatives may honor her memory with contributions to Bishop Kelley High School, 3905 S Hudson Avenue, Tulsa, OK  74135  or San Miguel Middle School, 2444 East Admiral Blvd, Tulsa, OK  74110.



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