Grant Howald, Community Activist, Dies

Grant Howald, a Newport Beach resident for 48 years and longtime community volunteer, died Wednesday of natural causes at his Corona del Mar home. He was 85.

His awards included Man of the Year for Corona del Mar and Man of Achievement for Newport Beach. He was named Orange Coast College’s Citizen of the Year in 1979.

During World War II, Howald was employed by Douglas Aircraft in Kansas, where he worked on development of the B-17 bomber and the first pinpoint bombsights used in the war.

In 1948, he moved to Corona del Mar from Valley Center, Kan. He became the local postmaster and was founder and president of the Newport Harbor Youth Center. He also helped create the city’s Community Youth Center, which was later named in his honor.

He also served on the selection committee that picked the campus site for UC Irvine and volunteered as a member of UCI’s Friends of the Library. He served as director of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and was president and lifetime director of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce.

He is survived by Inez, his wife of 61 years; his son, Walter G. Howald; and two grandchildren, Brandon Grant Howald and Theresa Marie Howald.

Viewing will be Sunday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach. A memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at Community Church, Congregational, 611 Heliotrope Ave., Corona del Mar.

The family asks that contributions be made to Corona del Mar’s Friends of the Oasis Senior Citizens Center or to Community Church, Congregational.