Paul R. Ritter, M.D., 92, of Chicora, formerly of Edgewood (Swissvale), died at 2:22 a.m. Tuesday at the Chicora Medical Center.

Born Feb. 26, 1917, in Pittsburgh, he was the son of Raymond R. Ritter and Pauline Weber Ritter.

He was a 1951 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.

He was a pioneer in nuclear medicine and established the first nuclear medicine lab at Shadyside Hospital in 1956. He worked 17 years at Shadyside Hospital and then switched to the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he did eight years of nuclear medicine until he retired at the age of 62.

A World War II veteran, he was stationed in the Philippines and Japan.

He was a member of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club, a former member of the Pittsburgh Toastmasters Club and the Pittsburgh Men's Garden Club.

He married Winnifred "Winnie" Randolph Ritter in 1952, and she died Jan. 21, 2009.

Surviving are one son, Roy Ritter of Chicora; one daughter, Ruth E. Ritter and her husband, Bruce Merritt, of San Jose, Calif.; and one granddaughter, Madeline Merritt. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

<B>RITTER</B> — There will be no visitation for Paul R. Ritter, M.D., who died Tuesday, May 19, 2009.Cremation arrangements are being handled by the <B>Steighner Funeral Home</B>, Chicora. Inurnment will be at the Homewood Cemetery Mausoleum in Pittsburgh.For more information or to offer condolences to his family, go to www.steighnerfuneralhome.com.