Diana Belle Lich Soat

September 9, 1931 – February 12, 2024

Diana Belle Lich Soat, age 92, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on September 9, 1931, in Comfort, Texas, to her parents Ida (Arhelger) and Oscar Lich. The fourth of five children: her siblings included three brothers, O.C., Victor, and Roy, and sister Helen.

She attended Cypress Creek School and graduated from Comfort High School in 1947 at the age of fifteen. She was awarded a scholarship to Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, Texas. Too young for college, she attended Draughon’s Business School in San Antonio. She first worked in the bookkeeping department at Frost Bank then at First Federal S&L. Years later, she was a secretary at Saint Mary’s Hall and Keller Saunders/Alamosa Company.

She was proud of her Hill Country heritage, where, in the 1850’s, her great-grandparents from Germany had settled. She was grateful to travel to Germany to get to know their descendants. Growing up being no further away from home than San Antonio, she would later travel throughout the United States, and visited England, Ireland, Australia, Aruba, Mexico, Canada, with stopovers in France and Iceland. She was the go-to for family history and carried a strong moral compass.

Along with her academic talents, she participated in sports, primarily basketball and was an avid Spurs and Cowboys fan. She enjoyed bowling, relished leisure at Canyon Lake, and had a prevalent creative quality with pictures, cross-stitch, a gifted Jeopardy player, and meticulous organizer.

Diana was a family first mom who raised her sons with love and grace. She was also a loving and fun Oma to her grandchildren and embraced her extended family. Her legacy of dedication to her family and friends will forever live in the hearts she touched, and leaves behind a rich source of fond memories that will continue to inspire and uplift those who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and, after a nearly 61-year marriage, beloved husband James (Jim) O. Soat. She and Jim were founding members of the St. Francis of Assisi Church community. Diana is survived by her sons, Kevin J. Soat, and Richard D. (Ruth) Soat; grandchildren, Cason R. (Ally) Soat, Richelle V. (George) Tasevski, Darin J. Soat, and Jalen P. Soat; great-grandchildren, Addisyn Belle Singleton and Journey Rose Tasevski, other extended family members including step-grandchildren Christopher (Francesca) Salazar, Melissa (Ken) Parker, Matthew (Kelsey) Salazar, step great grandchildren Jameson Salazar, Emerson Salazar, Keira Parker, Cassidy Parker, and numerous friends.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.