Colonel Assefa Kebede was born on January 20, 1941 in
Harar, Ethiopia, to his mother W/ro Wagaye and his father
Corporal Kebede Gebre Hywot.
After completing his elementary and high school education,
he joined the Haile Selassie I Military Academy and
graduated as a 2nd Lt in 1964.
After graduation, he served the Imperial Bodyguard as a
public relations officer .
Colonel Assefa is a proud father of Elias Assefa
who is his first born and who has the same
personality as his father
He has always been proud of Elias
for the love and admiration
he has given him
and also for the gift of
Abem
Then Kirubel Assefa was born who is
mellow and quiet but who made
his father very proud by giving
him Nolawi the best thing that
ever happened to him
and since his passing has added
Yohanna
Then Blein Assefa came along his
only girl and who adored
her father and was the light if his life
who never spent a day without making
sure her Daddy was OK
Then Mahteme Assefa came who
was the baby but who looked
exactly like his dad
He was a proud Grand father of Nolawi KIrubel and Abem Elias
and our new addition Yohanna Kirubel
Due to his professional success, inclination and desire to
work in the field of journalism, Col. Assefa received a
scholarship to pursue his education in India and obtained
his Master of Arts degree in Journalism in 1973.
After returning to Ethiopia, he became the Editor-in-Chief of
the Imperial Bodyguards’ newspaper
In 1976 he joined
greatly as the Chief of Publicity until 1977.
His hard work, commitment and leadership skills
Col. Assefa moved to the United States in 1988 and
begun his employment in the private sector in California.
After his retirement, Col Assefa moved to Richmond,
Virginia and continued to enjoy the rest of his life.
After fighting his illness for a while, Col. Assefa passed
away peacefully on May 2, 2008.
Along with deep respect and love of God, Col. Assefa
loved everyone and contributed to the success of many
by simply being a good person. He was a passionate,
caring, loving, respectful, soft-hearted father, brother,
and friend to many and everyone that crossed
his life. All of his past deeds shall be remembered by his
children, grand-children and everyone he touched.
Col. Assefa Kebede lived a wonderful and fulfilled life with
his childre.
May God bless his soul, and we pray to God to give his
family and friends, solace and peace of mind, in this time
of great loss.
Thank you all who have come from afar or near, in
person or telephoned for your wonderful thoughts of
sympathy and condolences.
His Loving Children
Elias, Kirubel, Blein and Mahteme