Elias Garcia Soriano, age 78, was called home by our heavenly father on Tuesday, April 4, 2007. He was born on April 23, 1928 to Rafael and Luisa Garcia Soriano. He was the eldest of eleven children. He was a loving and peaceful man. He was a father figure to all his brothers and sisters.On July 31st,1982 he married Guadalupe Muraida. They shared twenty -two wonderful and joyous years. She was the love of his life. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and going to watch the Texas Longhorn baseball team play. As a young man, he played baseball and was a boxer at the old Palm school. He was a very creative man and used his skills in welding to make BBQ pits that were sought after by many. His mother loved him dearly. He was the apple of her eye. His father taught him good work ethics, making him a good, hard-working and reliable employee. He was employed by the Economy Furniture Company and participated in the strike that was supported by the United Farm workers Union President, Cesar Chavez. He later retired from the City of Austin, Water and Wastewater Department. He gave to the National Law Enforcement Fund, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Easter Seals, Firefighters Memorial Fund and many other charitable organizations. Special thanks to Dr. S. Ryan and technician Barbara of St. David's Medical Center. Thanks to all the wonderful and loving staff at Hospice Austin's Christopher House for their care and support. We're grateful for his pastors Josue and Gilma Sanchez and the members of Bethel Pentecostal Church for their prayers. He is preceded in death by his wife Guadalupe M. Soriano, parents, Rafael and Luisa Garcia Soriano, his son Elias Soriano, Jr., his brothers Moses Soriano, Sr. and Rafael (Junior) Soriano, and his sister Janie Gonzales. He leaves behind, to miss him greatly, his brothers Florentino Soriano, Sr., Joel Soriano, Sr., his sisters Esther Alonzo, Linda Goldiano, Louisa Soriano and Mary Helen Ancira, his children Sylvia Granados, John Muraida, Joyce Carmona and Andrew Muraida, nineteen grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren. Prayer service will be held on Friday at 7:00pm at the Mission Funeral Home Remembrance Chapel(Cesar Chavez). Mr. Soriano will lie in state at 9:00am on Saturday at Bethel Pentecostal Church, 2320 Santa Maria St., with Funeral Service at 11:00am, Pastor Josue Sanchez officiating. Interment will follow in Assumption Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his nephews, Larry Soriano, Rafael C. Soriano, Rafael C. Ledesma, Joel Soriano, Jr., Felix S. Terrazas and David Carl Self.