Arthur F. Willing, age 86 of Valparaiso, Ind., passed away Thursday, September 6, 2012 at the VNA Hospice Center.

He was born August 13, 1926 in Valparaiso, the son of Leslie and Martha (Barneko) Willing.

On October 24, 2005 in Indianapolis, he married Helen (Ray) Glass, who survives in Valparaiso.

Also surviving is his step-daughter Cheree (Anthony) Calabro of Valparaiso, Ind., three step-sons, David (Mary) Glass of Crawfordsville, Ind., Alan Glass of Valparaiso and John Glass of Indianapolis, Ind., six step-grandchildren, seven great step-grandchildren and a sister Anne (Richard) Horner of South Bend, Ind.

Art graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1944. He attended two years at Valparaiso University, then graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. Degree in 1947, then received a Master of Arts Degree from Valparaiso University. He worked for Pullman Standard in Chicago, Continental Diamond Fiber as an engineer and taught at River Forest School from 1959 to 1987.

Art was well known as a woodworker who made handcrafted items. He was founder and first President of Friends of the Indiana Dunes, founder and first President of N.W. Indiana Story Tellers Association and appeared on local TV telling stories. He was also first President of Porter County Park Board, where he worked to make Sunset Hill Farm a Porter County park.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Bartholomew Funeral Home with Rev. Joseph Ostafinski officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 11, 2012 4-8 p.m. and 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bartholomew Funeral Home, 102 Monroe St., Valparaiso.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of the Dunes or the Visiting Nurse Association.

To sign a guestbook for Art, please visit www.bartholomewnewhard.com