Donald W. Walton was an adman in Detroit when he wrote and published "Art Is to Enjoy."

The 1965 book on art appreciation helped him get a job at the Franklin Mint in Philadelphia as head of its new art collectibles division. There he met legendary artist Norman Rockwell, who at the time worked as an illustrator for the company.

Mr. Walton and Rockwell collaborated on many projects and began work together on a biography of the artist. In 1978, the year Rockwell died, Mr. Walton published "A Rockwell Portrait: An Intimate Biography."

"Fortunately, Norman had received an advance copy of the book and was very happy with it," said Edie, Mr. Walton's wife of 71 years.

Mr. Walton, 95, of Lincolnwood, died of congestive heart failure Thursday, Feb. 21, at St. Francis Hospital of Evanston. He and his wife moved two years ago to Lincolnwood Place, a senior living community, from the Kansas City area, where they lived for many years.

What set Mr. Walton's book apart from other biographies written about Rockwell is that it went beyond the artist's image as a folk hero who painted an often humorous, idealized view of America.

In the 1970s, Mr. Walton and Rockwell became friends and spent time at Rockwell's home and studio in Stockbridge, Mass., both for personal get-togethers and for professional visits connected with the book. They also took a trip together with their wives to Switzerland.

That allowed Mr. Walton a closer look at the man and revealed Rockwell's deep-held beliefs and opinions on social and political issues such as racism and the nuclear arms race, which were later reflected in his art.

One example explored in Mr. Walton's book is an illustration Rockwell did for Look magazine in the 1960s. Titled "The Problems We All Live With," the work depicts Ruby Bridges, the young African-American girl who helped integrate the New Orleans school system in 1960, as she was being escorted to class by federal marshals in the face of hostile crowds.

"It was this part of Rockwell's body of work that my father-in-law viewed as very underappreciated," said his daughter-in-law, Sue Walton.

Rockwell told Mr. Walton for his book, "I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to."

According to Mr. Walton's wife, the book's back cover includes Rockwell's last self-portrait. It shows the artist peering out almost impishly, with his familiar pipe in hand, from behind her husband's shoulder.

When the biography of Rockwell came out, it was an instant best-seller, Edie Walton said. The Kroch's and Brentano's store on Fifth Avenue in New York devoted an entire window display to his book.

"After a day of book signing, we stood outside that store and I felt tears streaming down my face," Mr. Walton's wife recalled. "I was so proud of Don."

Born and raised in Cleveland, Mr. Walton was an only child who helped support his family from a young age when his father became disabled. The high school class valedictorian had to juggle his studies with part-time jobs, including one as a delivery boy. He learned to drive a truck at age 12.

"He could barely see over the steering wheel," said his son, Scott.

Mr. Walton earned a scholarship from what is now Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where he graduated from in 1939. He then attended the Huntington School of Art in Cleveland and later worked for a small ad agency in the city.

When World War II broke out, his job was eliminated, and the only work he could find was as a machinist. Mr. Walton enlisted and served in the 5th Air Force, part of the Army Air Forces, where he was assigned to a division responsible for making training films. He was later sent to Japan after the war ended.

After his discharge, Mr. Walton took a job with an ad agency in Detroit and for a time lived in St. Joseph, Mich., where he was in charge of the advertising account for Whirlpool.

In 1965, Mr. Walton left for the Franklin Mint, which had previously focused on selling commemorative coins. He remained with the company until 1977, then moved to the Kansas City area and did similar work heading the art collectibles division for Hallmark Cards. He retired in 1983.

Mr. Walton wrote two more books, "Are You Communicating?" in 1989, aimed at businesspeople, and "Our Weird, Wonderful Ancestors," on early American history, which was published in 1998. He was editing his final book to make it into an e-book at the time of his death.

"He had a tremendous desire to leave behind a little of what he had learned in life," his wife said.

There are no other immediate survivors.

Services were held.

Donald W Walton