Erlinda Soto Franco

Angels arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning, January 28, 2024, to carry Erlinda Soto Franco to her final resting home. Our Lovely Linda is truly gone too soon, and we miss her so much already. Though sad she is gone, we share her joy that she is back in the arms of her dear and long-departed husband, the love of her life, Domingo “Sunday” Franco Jr., who preceded her in death on December 17, 1995. So loved and cherished by family, we think she’ll be missed among the community and friends for being the life of the party as well. Her bigger-than-life personality contributed to her earned and most fitting nickname of Lovely Linda.

Our beautiful and lovely Linda raised eight children and helped watch over 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. After sending her last baby off to Pre-K, Linda attended Walla Walla Community College, earning an Associate of Applied Science – Sociology degree, selling Avon, and working all her life until retirement. Linda was born in Lyons, Kansas, and with her family, she migrated from the crops of Lyons County to the Yakima Valley as a teen. In the mid-1950s, Mr. and Mrs. Franco eventually settled their growing family in Walla Walla, Washington.

Preceding Mrs. Linda Franco in death are her children, Antonio Domingo Franco, Mario Francisco Franco, and Guadalupe Jesusita Franco; one brother, Plutarco Soto Jr., and two sisters, Bessie Soto Mendoza and Alvina Soto Leon; and her parents, Plutarco Sr. and Dolores Ruiz Soto. Linda is survived by children Veronica Torres (Franco), Martin Carlos Franco, Tomas Fernando Franco, Patricio Xavier Franco, and Eva Morales (Franco) and siblings Adeline Rojas (Soto) and Julian Soto.

Viewing and Visitation will be held Friday, February 16, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home, with the Rosary to follow at 6:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 10:00 am, at Assumption Parish.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.