Memorial Rites Planned for Walter Schmid

A memorial service will be held Saturday for Walter R. Schmid, a former rancher and founder of Orange County’s Lincoln Club, El Dorado Bank and the World Affairs Council of Orange County. Schmid died Feb. 10 at age 92.

Born in Stuttgart, Germany, Schmid moved to Orange County in 1911 with his parents. He helped grow cabbage, lima beans and citrus on the family farm in Garden Grove.

He was among the last growers to farm with horses.

After graduation from Anaheim High School in 1924, he traveled in Europe. When he returned, he continued farming but began selling real estate, leasing tractors and renting land to farm.

In 1931, he got a part-time job in Orange as a field man for a commercial packing house with Sunkist. He saved his money and later owned 200 acres and became the head of the Garden Grove Mutual Orange Assn.

Through the Waltmar Foundation, which he established and named after himself and his wife, Margaret, he provided donations to hospitals, shelters for battered children, and scholarships for cancer research. The foundation donated about $2.5 million in 10 years.

Schmid was a member of the Water Pollution Board, Air Resources Board and Boy Scouts board. He was on the Chapman University Board of Trustees, and on the board of the College of Medicine at UC Irvine.

Saturday’s service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Tustin Presbyterian Church, 225 W. Main St., Tustin.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Waltmar Foundation, 7931 Lampson Ave., Garden Grove 92641.

Schmid, widowed in 1988, is survived by sons, Don and Richard, both of Tustin; six grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.