Julius Asboth

McLean, Virginia -- Julius Asboth, Jr., age 82, died after a lengthy battle against bladder cancer. He was born on October 26,1939, in Sopron, Hungary, son of Ilona Pfieffer and Reverend Julius Asboth, Sr. He married Joan Millward Reading on December 22, 1977. She survives him.  

Also surviving is his stepdaughter, Candice Reading Chevaillier of Seattle, Washington, her husband, Joseph Dixon Whittaker and their two sons Griffin Dixon and Mason Russell Whittaker: in addition, his niece Suzanne Bartha VanderKlipp and her husband, Mark VanderKlipp of Traverse City, MI; and his nephew Charles Asboth Bartha of Northville, MI, and his wife, Karen Brissette. Plus, three great nephews and a great niece. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ilona Asboth Bartha.

During his childhood, Julius and his family relocated several times because of World War II.  He lived in several Hungarian and German cities and moved to Eschenau, Germany.  In 1951, he and his family emigrated to the United States and originally settled in Lorain, OH.  Later the family moved to Cleveland and finally to Detroit, MI where his father was minister of The First Hungarian Evangelical & Reformed Church in the Delray area.

In Detroit, Julius attended Cass Technical High School.  He graduated from Wayne State University in 1963 with BA Political Science.  He later received a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. In addition, Julius completed numerous military courses and colleges with specialties in intelligence, interrogation, management, and political military affairs. In 1979, Julius graduated from a two-year course at the German General Staff College in Hamburg, Germany.  

As a young boy, Julius was fascinated with the field of intelligence which became his career goal. He became a citizen in 1958. Although at this time, during the draft, the US Army only accepted intelligence officer candidates who had been naturalized for five years.  

During the Cold War, the US Air Force selectively chose those with desirable language and intelligence skills. Julius was uniquely qualified for this work with native fluency in English, Hungarian and German and skills in human intelligence. After basic training in Texas and intelligence school in Denver, Julius was stationed at March AFB, CA, with temporary duty in Guam.  He was then assigned to Munich, Germany as an intelligence case officer. In 1970-71, Julius served as an USAF interrogator at Bien Hao Air Base Vietnam. He also served five tours to Germany—Munich, Frankfurt (2x), Hamburg, and Ramstein Air Base. Julius received the Bronze Star Medal and numerous Defense Meritorious Service Medals from the US, Vietnam, and recognition from the German Defense Ministry for his role in Host Nation Support, while at HQ USAF Ramstein. Julius also had two tours at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington.  

Upon retirement in 1985 from the US Air Force, as a Lieutenant Colonel, Julius was hired to run Texas Instruments International Programs, Defense Systems & Electronics Group in Washington, DC.  He loved his job visiting attaches in Washington and attending air and defense events in Paris and London. The highlight was three months in Budapest, Hungary, opening Texas Instruments representational office when the Warsaw Pact collapsed.

Julius met his wife, Joan, of almost 44 years, in Arlington, VA and they traveled extensively in their VW camper in Europe and later in his convertible Mini Cooper in the US. Once, they flew around the world in 17 days meeting TI agents in India, Singapore, Hong Kong Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. They crossed the Atlantic on QE II, cruised to Antarctica, Alaska, Bermuda, Caribbean, Viking in China, transited the Panama Canal, Viking cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest as well as tours to Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Cuba and cross-country road trips in US.  

While in Europe, Julius enjoyed visiting France, Spain, and Italy, sampling Bouillabaisse and dining at Paul Bocuse’s restaurant in Lyon. He enjoyed his family, especially Candice, Joe and their two sons: traveling, reading, photography, history, fine cuisine, speaking Hungarian and German with his family and friends, rosewood furniture, and music from his B&O stereo. He adored their dogs—Dachshund, Lucy, and chocolate Labrador retrievers, Diva, and Dolley Madison.

Julius will be greatly missed by family and friends around the world.  Celebration of Life will be held in the fall of 2022 along with burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Donations can be sent to:

Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN), 4520 East-West Highway, Suite 610, Bethesda, MD  20814;

Hillsdale College, 33 E. College Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242;  

Frankfurt Zoological Society, c/o Conservation Carpathia, 3810 Argyle Terrace, NW, Washington, DC 20011 or https://fzs.org/donate2us