Howard H. Bosley, a retired Goodyear Tire manager who had been active in the Army Reserve, died of respiratory failure Wednesday at York Hospital in York, Pa. The former Owings Mills resident was 78.

Born in Upperco, Mr. Bosley was a 1946 Towson High School graduate and earned a degree in agriculture and economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. He joined the Army in 1952 and served as an instructor at the U.S. Army Engineer School. He remained active in the reserves for many years.

Mr. Bosley retired from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in 1993, after working for 39 years at stores in Westminster and downtown Baltimore.

In 1989, he retired from reserve duty and went into the Maryland Defense Force, a volunteer agency of uniformed military, holding the rank of command sergeant major. He was awarded the State of Maryland Distinguished Service Cross.

He organized and helped to run the Miss Wheelchair Maryland Pageant for 11 years.

"He cared about the education and success of his grandchildren," said his daughter-in-law, Susie Ensor Bosley. "He was ... Pop-Pop to my children and so many other children, too."

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Bosley United Methodist Church, 14800 Thornton Mill Road in Sparks, where he had been a member.

Survivors include his son, David R. Bosley Sr. of Felton, Pa.; and three grandchildren. His wife of 48 years, the former Marguerite Joan Schwartz, died in 2001. A daughter, Pamela Bosley, died in 1974.