Felix Fernandez Cabanting

Felix ("Lex") Fernandez Cabanting, 89, peacefully entered eternal rest surrounded by his family on February 11, 2025. He was born on June 12, 1935, in Rosales, Pangasinan, Philippines, as the fourth eldest of six boys of Cecilia Fernandez and Andres Cabanting. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Felix was an academic prodigy, skipping multiple grades, graduating Class Valedictorian from Pangasinan Rosales High School and earning a prestigious scholarship to a law school at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, where he caught the eye of his beautiful future bride. On December 21, 1962, Felix married the love of his life, Avelina Flores Cabanting. Upon the death of his father, Felix joined the U.S. Navy to support his mother, brothers and new wife. In the late 1950s, he left the Philippines and arrived in the United States and later brought his wife to join him in Long Beach, California, to start a new life in America with Willie, their young son. Felix fulfilled a glorious career in the Navy, ultimately earning the rank of Senior Chief. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving 30 years in the Navy, including assignments on the USS Yorktown and time stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was presented the Ney Award, which is the highest award a dining facility can achieve. In the mid-1980s, Felix retired from the Navy and continued to work as a civil servant of the federal government. 

Felix eventually worked part-time at the Navy Commissary, where he was a frequent customer and where he would go to pick up his wife from work. He was a master gardener of Philippine vegetables and loved to cook all kinds of Philippine and Asian cuisine. He worked tirelessly on his home and yard. His ultimate passion was taking care of his loving wife. He never let a morning go by without making her coffee and writing love notes "from Your Loving Husband Lex," and he drove her everywhere.

Felix enjoyed watching three generations grow and flourish, and he was absolutely the favorite grandparent of all of his grandchildren. He helped to raise his eldest grandson Ryan, and he was the Grandpa Babysitter of all of his other grandchildren. He would often cook for them and share stories of his life in the Philippines and "30 years in the Navy" (his favorite phrase). Felix was incredibly generous to his children and grandchildren, often giving them spending money and even buying them cars when they earned the driver's licenses. He loved taking them crabbing, and they were amazed at his ability to catch crabs with his bare hands without getting pinched.

Felix fluently spoke Tagalog and Ilocano as well as English. He was also excellent in Latin. Felix was a remarkable husband, father and grandfather. He was totally selfless and sacrificed so much. He took care of his mother, brothers and his own family, he lived in the Philippines during World War II, and came to America where his legacy endures with three successful generations. 

Felix is survived by his wife of 62 Years, Avelina Flores Cabanting; his two children and their spouses: Willie F. Cabanting and wife. Cheryl Marlowe-Cabanting and Cheryl F.C. Ludlam and husband, Dr. Gary J. Ludlam; grandchildren: William Ryan Cabanting and wife, Briana Buckhalter Cabanting; Elizabeth Frances Cabanting Ludlam Hoyland and husband, Scott Hoyland; Joshua Felix Cabanting Ludlam; Elijah Fernandez Catalino Ludlam and Therese Filomena Cecilia Ludlam; great-grandchildren, Ophelia Felicity Hoyland and Baby Hoyland coming in April.

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 14, 2025, from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church, 1106 Fort Drive, Hanahan, SC 29410.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM at Divine Redeemer Catholic Church in Hanahan, SC. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Gardens in North Charleston, SC.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at mcalister-smith.com/.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 869 St. James Avenue, Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843) 553-1511.