Ernest F. Ritter, Attorney Ernest F. Ritter, 97, of Allentown, passed away March 14, 2009 at the Phoebe Home, Allentown. He was the loving husband of the late Jeanne A. (McGinley) Ritter of Allentown, who predeceased him on October 29, 1997. Born in Allentown, he was the son of the late Ernest B. and Anna W. (Nerz) Ritter. Ernest, or Ernie as known to his friends and family, graduated from William Allen High School in 1931 and Lehigh University in 1935. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1938 and was a licensed attorney in Lehigh County for over 70 years. He was a World War II Army Veteran who served overseas in Korea as a Staff Sergeant. While in Korea he was admitted to practice in the Korean Courts. Ernest served in the District Attorneys Office of Lehigh County under District Attorneys, John Cutshall, Joseph E. Gehringer, Kenneth H. Koch, and Paul A. McGinley. He was appointed as the first Public Defender by the Courts of Lehigh County. He founded the firm of Ritter & Ritter Law Office, presently located in Emmaus, PA. He was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church since its inception and served for many years on the Church Council and as its legal advisor. Survivors: He will lovingly be remembered by his four Sons, Joseph M. and his wife Mary Ann, Atty. James A. and his wife Mary Elizabeth of Emmaus, Ernest F. Jr. and his wife Nancy, of Lilburn, GA, and Edward E. and his wife Carleen of Norcross, GA; eight grandchildren and his sister, Mary Fitzgerald of Allentown. He was predeceased in death by sisters, Eleanor and Elizabeth Ritter and Agnes Leidig; brothers, Edward and Francis all of Allentown, and Dr. Thomas J. of Schuylkill County. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 12:30 PM in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexor Avenue, Allentown. Friends may call 11:30 to 12:30 PM in the church. Interment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Schantz Funeral Home, Inc., Emmaus is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.schantzfh.com. Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of St. Thomas More Church, 1040 Flexor Avenue, Allentown, PA 18103 or to Phoebe-Devitt Homes Foundation, 1925 Turner Street, Allentown, PA 18104.