May 25, 2017
David A. Willis, 86, of Noblesville, formerly of Chesterton and Indianapolis, Indiana, and Penns Grove, New Jersey, died in Noblesville, Indiana, on May 25, 2017.
Willis was a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences of Indiana University, Bloomington (B.A., Economics), and earned his Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the I.U. Maurer School of Law in 1960. A few years later, he helped his law school as a member of the Law Alumni Association Board of Directors and its secretary.
After serving Indiana as counsel to the then Department of Mental Illness, he practiced law in Porter County, Indiana, for nearly forty years. On his retirement from the practice of law, he formed a financial advisory firm in Indianapolis, specializing in employee benefits and estate planning.
As a practicing attorney, he served as president of the Porter County Bar Association; as a member of the Board of Managers and Secretary of the Indiana State Bar Association; as a member of the Indiana Bar Foundation; and as a Lifetime Fellow of the American Trial Lawyers Foundation. He was admitted to practice by the Indiana Supreme Court and by the Supreme Court of the United States. He was awarded the Presidential Citation from the Indiana State Bar Association.
As a financial advisor, he was involved as a member of the board of directors and president of the Indianapolis chapter of the American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters and Certified Financial Consultants. He was also national chairman of the Certified Senior Advisors Board of Standards for more than three years.
Long active in Rotary International, Willis was the Charter President of the Portage, Indiana Club; Charter Member of the Indianapolis-East Club; President of the Indianapolis-Northeast Club; President of the Noblesville Club; for many years President of the District 6560 Rotary Foundation; and a Paul Harris Fellow.
He was the author of five books, two of them about his beloved hometown of Penns Grove, New Jersey: Get Ready For Tomorrow; The School Bell Rang At Nine; Our Final Salute; Cooking Tools; and 1945.
Deborah Ann King Willis, his wife of more than 47 years, preceded him in death. He is survived by three daughters: Anne Willis Reed (Thomas); d’André Willis (Jamie Whalen); and Alexandra Willis. He is survived also by one grandchild, Deborah Katherine Reed. Kay Vesey was his loyal friend for many years. His parents, Russell and Margaret Willis, preceded him in death, as did all of his siblings: Russell, Mary, William, and Lewis Willis.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Deborah A. Willis Fund of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana, 615 North Alabama Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or online at www.cicf.org. (Online donors can follow the “Give Now” prompt, select “Existing Fund” under donation choices, and enter “Deborah A. Willis Fund” in the field provided.)
Condolences: www.randallroberts.com