Obituary of Felix Perez

WEST COLUMBIA-Services for Felix Perez, Major, U.S. Army (Retired), will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012, at Platt Springs United Methodist Church, West Columbia, SC. Burial with full military honors will be held in Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class. Memorials may be made to Epworth Children's Home, 2900 Millwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29250 or Platt Springs United Methodist Church, 3215 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. Major Perez died Sunday, July 22, 2012. Born in Coamo, Puerto Rico, he was the son of the late Florencio and Petronila Mateo Perez. He was a former Green Beret, and a veteran of 22 years of active military service. Among his educational achievements is a BS degree from the University of South Carolina. He was a Real Estate Broker, a State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser and managed his own appraisal practice following retirement from the United State Army in 1975. He was an active member of the Carolina Alumni Association, the National and Local chapters of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), a charter member of the American Academy of State Certified Appraisers, the National and State Chapters of the National Association of Realtors Appraisal Sections, American Legion and Chapter XXXIV, Special Forces Association and United States Army Officer Candidate School Alumni Association. He served during the Korean and Vietnam wars. His decorations include the Bronze Star, Air Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Special Forces Tab and Parachutist Badge, Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medals. He was a member of Platt Springs United Methodist Church, where he was very active and served in various committees. Surviving are his daughter-in-law, Celia Wooten Perez, and grandson, Nicholas D. Perez of West Columbia, SC; sisters, Aglahe, Mirta, and brothers, Rafael Perez of Bayamon, Puerto Rico; and brothers, Francisco and Jose of the state of Washington. He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Harwell Perez their only son, Stan, brothers, Pedro Juan, Enrique, Domingo and sister, Rosa.