Harry A. Ritts, 79, of Seneca, died Thursday afternoon, May 14, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Oil City.

He was born in Emlenton on March 10, 1936 to the late Fred “Shorty” and Alberta “Bertie” (Whitling) Ritts.

Harry was a 1954 graduate of Cranberry High School and then served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 through 1959, learning the electrical trade.

Mr. Ritts was a former member of the Cranberry Township Planning Commission; and a member of the Cranberry Area Lions Club. He served the club as King Lion and was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow award recognizing his dedicated humanitarian service.

Harry enjoyed working with his fellow Lions at their food sales trailer during the summer. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping trips with his family. He and his family grew a vegetable garden and he took pride in his potato patch. Harry was well known for his quick witted humor.

Mr. Ritts was employed for forty years as a union electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, where he worked for a number of local contractors. He retired from Cokain Electric in Franklin.

He was married in Cranberry on August 24, 1960 to the former Joyce Harry, and she survives.

Also surviving are three children: Katrina Weaver and her husband Jeff of Seneca, Jennifer Crawford of Cranberry, and Jeff Ritts of Seneca; two grandchildren, Jessica McKiernan and her husband Chris of Seneca, and Jeffrey Weaver of Seneca; two brothers, Paul Ritts and his wife Jeannie of Seneca, John Ritts and his wife Cheri of Grandville Summit; a sister, Pat Latshaw of North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Glenn Ritts, and a sister, Betty Hall.

Friends will be received Sunday (May 17th) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in the Hile-Best Funeral Home, Inc., 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca, Cranberry Township. The Cranberry Lions Club will conduct a brief memorial service Sunday at 2 p.m. The funeral service will be held in the funeral home Monday (May 18th) at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Tim Tygert, officiating. Full military honors will be accorded by the V.E.T.S. Honor Guard.

Private interment will be in Brandon Cemetery in Cranberry.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090; or online at www.alz.org

Condolences may be expressed to the family online by visiting www.hilebest.com