Raymond Michael "Mike" Soo, of Rockville, MD passed away peacefully on September 27, 2017 at home in the presence of family.  Mike was born in Washington, D.C on May 10th, 1942, the first son of the late Raymond Thomas and the late Vivian Idell Soo.  He grew up in in Rockville, graduated from St. John's College High School, attended Georgetown University and graduated from the University of Maryland, earning a Bachelor's Degree in microbiology. In 1967 he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Travis A.F.B., CA and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, serving as the squadron administrative officer overseeing air base operations. Mike left active duty in 1972 as a Captain and spent the remainder of his career as a civilian with the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense, working at the Pentagon in civilian personnel.  He retired in 1997 to enjoy a slower pace of life at his home in suburban Rockville and on vacations with his family on Anna Maria Island, FL.    

Mike was the cherished husband of Carol Lee (Heinlein) Soo, whom he met at age 15 and was married to for 53 years.  They raised two daughters in Rockville in close proximity to his extended family. Mike loved working with his hands and was a skilled amateur mechanic, carpenter and contractor. In retirement Mike took an interest in computers as a hobby, and became interested in finance, developing a knack for managing money and investments. He enjoyed solitary pursuits like reading, fishing and gardening, as well as lively debate and the art of conversation. Most recently, he developed a passion for ancestry, carefully tracing his families' Chinese and Irish lineage to its beginnings in this country at the turn of the 19th century. Mike will be remembered for his deep love of and loyalty to family, and for his wisdom, integrity and dry wit.  Mike will be missed deeply by all who knew him, as he was a devoted husband, son, brother, father, cousin, mentor and friend. 

He is survived by his wife Carol, beloved daughters Monica Soo and Erin Crane, son-in-law Chris Crane, sisters Michelle Doane and Leslie White, brother Patrick Soo, brothers-in-law Kenneth Doane, James White and Terry Heinlein, sister-in-law Andrea Heinlein, and nephews and nieces James Doane, Jonathan Heinlein, Amanda White-Iseli, J.B. White, Jason Soo and Stephanie Soo. He was predeceased by his niece Jeanne-Marie Doane and nephew Christopher Heinlein. 

A mass to celebrate his life will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 520 Veirs Mill Rd. in Rockville on Saturday, October 28 at 10:30 a.m. Michael will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a later date.

 Service Information