Armando J. Perez

Conway… Armando Jorge "A.J." Perez — loving husband, father, drill sergeant, cross-stitcher and consummate cook — passed away peacefully on Sept. 10, 2026, at his home in Conway, South Carolina. He was 94. Born Dec. 8, 1931, in Havana, Cuba — although that date has been called into question and may have been October 1931 — he lived a full life defined by service, generosity, and a deep devotion to his family. He moved from Cuba to the United States in 1953, seeking better opportunities. He lived several years in Miami, working as a tile-setter and in other construction-related jobs, before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Like many military recruits, A.J. dreamed of traveling the world, and he eventually was stationed in Germany. One midsummer evening in 1958, Armando and a fellow soldier were walking in downtown Erlangen when they spotted two beautiful young women strolling on the same street. One was Regine Dommick. "Sprechen sie Deutsch? (Do you speak German?)" A.J. called to Regine. No response. He tried again: "Habla Espanol? (Do you speak Spanish?)" Still no reply. Regine remembers telling her friend to ignore them and keep walking. "I sure hope you speak English," A.J. finally said, at which point Regine turned around and responded, "No!" A.J. and Regine went out for ice cream that evening. Using her eyebrow pencil, he wrote his telephone number on the back of a pack of Lucky Strikes, and they kept in touch. They married in December of 1960. Armando proudly served nearly 20 years in the Army, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. As a drill instructor at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was known for his booming voice and sharp uniform, and he spent years shaping the lives of young soldiers, instilling in them the values of honor and duty. He served two tours in Vietnam, where he was a tank gunner and earned a Bronze Star medal for meritorious service in a combat zone. He was injured during his second tour, and after numerous surgeries, doctors initially told him he had a 25 chance of walking normally again. But he recovered, and following his early retirement from the military, Armando poured himself into a life of volunteer work. He coached neighborhood baseball teams, managed concession stands, drove his children and their classmates to school field trips and athletic events, and sliced up about 1.2 million oranges for the Seventy-First High School wrestling team. When their children were grown, A.J. and Regine moved from Fayetteville, N.C., to Murrells Inlet, S.C., and then to Conway. Over the years, he prepared and served free meals for thousands of people at churches throughout the Lowcountry. He believed that a hot meal could bring comfort, and he gave his time and talent to ensure no one went hungry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, A.J. and his team of kitchen helpers prepared countless to-go meals, also raising funds for church youth activities. During quiet moments, A.J. channeled his detail-oriented eye into the art of counted cross-stitch. From the comfort of his favorite chair, he spent hours crafting intricate scenes of flowers, landscapes and Charleston porches — hundreds of thousands of stitches in all — leaving his family with cherished heirlooms that reflect both his precision and patience. His friends and family members will always remember his bright blue eyes, sly smile and adventurous spirit. On cruises, he was first to sing karaoke or sign up for the Hairy Chest Contest. At home, he nursed baby bunnies and birds back to health. With friends and family, he played cut-throat games of Cowboy Rummy, Phase 10 and Splendor. He leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion — and an unmatched recipe for black beans and rice. Armando is survived by his wife of 65 years, Regine; three children, Thomas Perez and his wife, Sh'ay, of Apex, N.C., David Perez and his wife, Kim, of Summerville, S.C., and Suzanne Perez and her husband, Andrew Tade, of Wichita, Kansas; eight grandchildren (Tyler, Stephen, Gregory, Timothy, Melissa, Allison, Hannah and Jack); and nine great-grandchildren. A service to honor his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at St. Philip Lutheran Church, 6200 North Kings Hwy. in Myrtle Beach, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Operation Homefront, a nonprofit supporting military veterans programs. Please sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Armando J. Perez

December 8, 1931 - September 10, 2026