More detail on this person: Lt Colonel Harold DeRoy Asbury (retired) 'Harry' died peacefully on May 30th, 2017 with his daughter at his side. One of the few remaining members of the 'Greatest Generation', Harry enjoyed a life well-lived, and it is truly a life to be celebrated. Harold DeRoy Asbury was born on the family farm in Shaw, in Boone County, Missouri, August 11, 1924, the fourth child of Samuel Homer Asbury and Martha Florence (McGuire) Asbury. He grew up in the area, and graduated from Hickman Senior High School in 1942. He moved to Akron Ohio right after graduation to start his career in the business world, but soon realized that his need to serve was great. He started his military career in 1943, and has spent the majority of his life serving. The recipient of numerous awards, accommodations and medals including the Bronze Star and the Air Medal with Valor for Heroism medal, LTC Asbury served in World War II, the Korean War, the Berlin Airlift period, the Congolese Rebellion of 1963-65 and Vietnam. He was qualified in both rotary and fixed wing aircraft, which was his passion. One of the earliest bases he served at was Camp Shelby MS, where in 1945 he met and married the love of his life, Eloise Bradley. The two were married for 64 years until her death in 2009. They were blessed to be able to travel together as a couple and then as a family - to many of his assignments, and Eloise was proud to be his Army wife. During his career he was stationed on the island of Attu- in the Aleutian Islands; at Inchon, Korea, where General McArthur assigned him as a Signal Officer; at Trieste, Italy where he commanded the Palace Guard at Miramar Castle; was promoted to Captain during his time at Ryukus Command, Okinawa; he graduated top of his class in flight school, became an Army Aviator and served as Advisor to the ROK Army Aviation School at Chon-ju, South Korea; he attended Defense Intelligence School in Washington DC after being selected into the Army Attache' system and he served as Army Attache' to the Republic of the Congo in Africa where he served as a pilot and spent his tour gathering intelligence; and he served as the Helicopter Base Commander in Bien Hoa Base, Vietnam. He served at many bases in the United States, at varying levels of command, during his career, and became a Lt Colonel and was a Senior Army Aviator assigned as Director of the Artillery Schools Doctrine at Ft Sill OK, which is where he ultimately retired from. After his retirement from the military, Harry stayed very busy. He owned a Texaco service station, and it was here that he obtained his degree in Business Administration. They left Lawton and went to Oklahoma City where he worked in sales for several major corporations, taught adult education for the Oklahoma Public School system, and he was assigned to the FEMA Emergency Operating Center at Denton TX serving 2 three year terms. He worked at (among other places), World Neighbors as their Director of Administration and as Manager of the Stock Transfer Department of First Natl Bank of Oklahoma City. They moved to be near Lake Eufaula where they lived for 17 years, and he was active in the community. They moved back to Oklahoma City for good in 2002 and since then he enjoyed singing in the choir at the Chapel Hills United Methodist Church, taking walks in his neighborhood, visiting with family and friends, and working on the novel he was writing. Colonel Asbury was a Life Member of the Retired Officers Assoc and the Army Aviation Assoc. He was a member of the Assoc of the US Army, the American Legion, the NRA, and AARP. Harold D Asbury was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Eloise Bradley Asbury, his parents, Sam and Martha Asbury, his brothers Sam Jr Asbury and William Asbury, his sisters Alice (Asbury) Neal and Martha (Asbury) Gattis, and his grand-daughter Elaine Morgan Asbury. He is survived by his children - Teresa Asbury Diel (husband Don) of Oklahoma City, OK, George Asbury (wife Barbara) of Woodland Park, CO, grandchildren Theresa Sewell Byrd, Michael Sewell (wife Connie), Amanda Martin (husband Larry), and George Dane Asbury, and step-grandchildren Crystal Wells-DiFabio (husband Joe), and Tadd Wells (wife Carri); as well as 14 great-grandchildren. Lt Colonel Asbury will be laid to rest with military honors in Ft Sill OK on Tuesday June 13. There will be a celebration of his life in Oklahoma City, OK at the Memorial Park Chapel on June 12th at 10 am. Published in The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Sunday, June 11, 2017, Page
Burial information: Fort Sill National Cemetery
This information was last updated 06/15/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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