Paul A. Hastings; Retired Building Official

Paul A. Hastings, retired assistant superintendent of building for the city of Los Angeles and former manager of the Building and Safety Department’s Valley district office in Van Nuys, has died at a Van Nuys hospital. He was 89.

Hastings died Monday of complications of a stroke, said his granddaughter, Valerie Hastings. He was a resident of Rancho Bernardo, Calif., and a former resident of Van Nuys and North Hollywood.

A native of Washington, Ind., Hastings earned a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. He came to California in 1923 and started working that year for the city of Los Angeles’ Harbor Department. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army’s 977th Coast Artillery Anti-Aircraft Regiment, achieving the rank of colonel. After he was discharged, Hastings returned to Los Angeles and in the late 1940s was made assistant superintendent of building and manager of the Building and Safety Department’s Valley district office. He held the positions until his retirement in 1962.

Hastings was past president of the Encino Kiwanis Club, City Employees Masonic Club, All-City Employees Assn. and the Purdue Club. He also was a member of the Structural Engineers Assn.

He is survived by his granddaughters, Valerie Hastings and Elaine Edell, both of Sherman Oaks. His wife, Emily Hastings, died in 1984, and his son, Jack Hastings, died in 1970.

A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pomerado Christian Church, 12708 Stone Canyon Road in Poway, Calif. Burial will follow at Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway. Lorenzen Mortuary in Reseda is handling the arrangements.

Donations can be made in Hastings’ name to the American Lung Assn.