Rev. Victor Orta, II, a long-time Tulsa Baptist minister and champion for Oklahoma's Hispanic community, died Thursday. Victor was a first generation Mexican-American born to Victor and Enriqueta Orta in Victoria, Texas. After graduating with a Masters in Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Victor began his career with the First Baptist Church of Dallas as a minister for one of its Hispanic missions. He was called in 1976 to establish Tulsa's first Spanish-speaking Baptist mission. Victor also planted 20 churches and founded 25 Hispanic Ministry Centers for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, and was a home missionary for the Southern Baptist Convention. He served on several committees of the Tulsa Baptist Network, Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries and the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. His life-long passion was glorifying God and leading people to know Christ's love.

Victor was also an advocate for human rights. He founded a series of faith-based support programs for the state's Hispanic community. He also served as President of the American Dream Coalition, a pro-immigrant group that promotes comprehensive immigration reform. Victor's motivation behind his advocacy work was fueled not by partisan politics, but rather by God's teaching to love thy neighbor. Victor served as the first chairman of several organizations, including the Hispanic Affairs Commission of the Greater Tulsa Area, Tulsa's International Alliance, and the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations. As the first Oklahoma state coordinator for the National Coalition of Latino Clergy, Victor attended several National Prayer Breakfasts in Washington D.C. The State of Oklahoma Human Rights Commission twice recognized Rev. Orta with the Oklahoma Human Rights Award (1984 and 2006). In 1998, The Tulsa World acknowledged Rev. Orta as one of the 100 most influential people during Tulsa's first century. In 2008, Victor was named Honorary Mayor of Oklahoma City.

Supporting Victor for over 40 years was the love of his life, Gloria, who passed away 25 years ago. Victor and Gloria had four children: Ruth, who died in 2012; Belinda, who is married to Lance Short; Vanessa, who is married to Donald Lynn; and Trey, who is married to Dr. Amy Orta. They also had 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Dr. Brandy Jacobs (with sons Theodore and Joseph), Dr. Britney Grayson and Brienne Grayson; DJ Fleming, who died in 2003, and Samantha Robinson; Alexandra, Victoria and Preston Lynn; and Lucas, Vivian and Sabrina Orta. Victor is also survived by his sister, Elida Lee and her husband, Freddie, and his second wife, Yolanda Gonzales Orta.

Victor was an avid Dallas Cowboy and Oklahoma Sooners fan. He was known to cut his Sunday services short if the Cowboys had a noon kickoff. Victor also greatly enjoyed fishing with his brothers-in-law and extended family in south Texas.

Following Gloria's death, Victor remained committed to being an active grandfather. He was frequently seen at high school football games, track meets, musical performances, and even took on the role of babysitter so that his children and their spouses could have date nights. Victor made a profound impact on all of his children and grandchildren, leaving them with an inheritance of God's love and his legacy of Christian faith.

Victor's family wishes to thank the staff of Montereau Retirement Community Health Center, especially the employees and medical staff of Chateau 1 South, whose exceptional care for Victor greatly enhanced the last 2 1/2 years of his life.

Following a private family burial, Victor will be interred alongside Gloria at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa. Moore Southlawn