Major Alberto “Al” Perez, USAF (Ret.)
April 20, 1941-September 5, 2026
Alberto Perez passed peacefully in the early morning of September 5, 2026, in Kyle, Texas, surrounded by those who loved him. He was eighty-five.
He was born on April 20, 1941, in Los Fresnos, TX, one of seven children raised by Emilio and Felicitas Perez alongside his siblings Lee, Mona, Mary, Rachel, Elias, and Junior. Growing up in a large, close-knit family set the tone for a life Al would spend building communities of his own wherever he landed.
He enlisted in the Air Force at nineteen, starting out as an aircraft mechanic, a job he was always proud of and one that put him hands-on with the planes he’d come to love. He later earned a commission (mustang officer), taking on new responsibilities in Air Force logistics, and he made the Air Force his life’s work for the next twenty-three years. As a Supply Squadron Commander (Chief of Supply), he mastered the discipline of getting the right resources to the right place at the right time, a skill that would define him well beyond his uniform. He served two tours in the war zones of Korea and Vietnam, was decorated repeatedly. Along the way, he moved his family fifteen times, beginning in Sudbury, England, where he married Christine Theophilus. They later welcomed their sons, Anthony and Ken.
Retirement never really slowed him down, and if anything, opened a second act. Al was a builder at heart, and designed and built an unconventional, partially underground home outside Lockhart, a clever answer to the Texas heat that became the house he’d live in for the rest of his life.
In 1985, Al married Wilma Perez, bringing their families together and welcoming Christopher and Bill into his life as sons. Their marriage would go on to span 41 years.
That early love of aircraft never left him. He earned his commercial pilot’s license, went on to become a certified flight instructor, and took to the sky simply for the joy of flying. His adventurous spirit stayed with him throughout his life, even leading him to celebrate his 70th birthday with a skydive. He also loved to travel, setting off on cross-country adventures with close friends for years to come.
He was also, unmistakably, a businessman—sharp, restless, and always building something new. He worked as a Certified Public Accountant, taught business courses at local colleges, served as a hospital administrator, and owned and ran two hotels and a restaurant. He invested in real estate and threw himself into city politics, where he was among those who helped found Lockhart’s Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, giving the town’s Mexican-American business owners a seat at the table. For three decades he was a familiar, active presence in nearly every corner of the community, part of the collective effort that helped Lockhart grow.
Later in life, Al found a deepening faith that became one of the most defining parts of who he was. It was not something he simply professed, but something he lived, through his service and generosity toward others. That devotion led him to write and publish a book exploring his faith, The Journey We Must All Take, a project that meant a great deal to him.
He was highly respected by his friends, colleagues, and the Lockhart community, and people often sought him out for his advice, guidance, and wisdom. He had a strong presence and an unwavering work ethic, but those who knew him best will remember not only what he accomplished, but the countless ways he invested in the lives of others.
Al was, in every sense, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend—the kind of man people were glad to call any of those things. He will be remembered for his restlessness in the best sense: always building, always moving, always finding one more community worth investing in.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Wilma Perez; his four sons, Anthony (Sharon), Ken, Christopher (Krissi), and Bill (Adrienne); his six grandchildren, Julius, Rowan, Colden, Connor, Leighton, and Logan; his siblings Rachel (Danny), Aleas, and Junior (Coco); and numerous extended family and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents, Emilio and Felicitas, and his siblings Lee, Mona, and Mary.
A memorial service honoring Al will begin at 10:00 a.m. at Martindale Baptist Church located at 12351 Highway 142 in Martindale, TX on October 9th. Following the service, family and friends are invited to remain for lunch and a time of fellowship and remembrance.
At 12:30 p.m., a convoy will depart for Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, where Al will be laid to rest with full military honors at 1:45 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to Martindale Baptist Church in Al’s honor.
