A. B. Perez

As was his custom, our daddy rose early in the morning on August 15th; this time it was to meet his Lord. He slipped away at 12:30 a.m., in the home that he cherished, at the age of 100 years, 3 months.

Dad was the longest living member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church. Confirmed at the age of 12, he was a member for 88 years. He was born in Buda, Texas and moved to Austin with his family after the death of his father. He began to work at an early age and was trained in the hotel industry as a salad chef. Cafeteria businessman recruited him to open all Austin cafeteria locations in the 30’s-40’s. His family testifies to his extraordinary work ethic, a principle that has blessed the family. A.B. married Susie Mendez (1935), who preceded him in death (2003). He leaves daughters Yolanda Greathouse, Omega Kennard, Rachel Ruiz, Margot Perez-Greene (Ken), and Marilyn Lacobee, and 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. This family was his life. Nothing else seemed to matter except for the church, family, and baseball!

Our memories are full and rich. Important to us is that we know Dad loved us and left each one of us with the unequivocal task of living a life committed to God. He was not a man of pretense; he was genuine, gifted, generous, humorous, wise, kind, faithful and loving. As we look at the whole of his life, no one could ask for a better father. Our family now faces the grace-filled work of embrace and surrender.

Our family is deeply grateful to our sister, Marilyn, who served as Dad’s constant companion and caregiver during his last 3 years.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half past six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Monday the 19th of August 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

A worship service will be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 20th of August 2013, at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 200 Brushy Street, Austin, Texas. A private interment will be held at Cook-Walden Memorial Hill Cemetery, Pflugerville, Texas.

Memorial contributions in Dad’s memory can be made to Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Austin, Texas.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.