Richard William Ervin Jr.

Justice Richard Ervin Jr. Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Richard William Ervin Jr., 99, died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004. He survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Frances Baker Ervin. The service will be at 4 p.m. EDT Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, with a private family burial at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. EDT today at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Timberlane Road Chapel (850-893-4177). Memorial contributions may be made to the Richard W. Ervin Jr. Family Enrichment Summer Camp, c/o Woodmen of the World, P.O. Box 14185, Tallahassee, FL 32317. Justice Ervin was attorney general of Florida from 1949 to 1964 and a justice of the Florida Supreme Court from 1964 to 1975. A third-generation Floridian, he was born in Carrabelle on Jan. 26, 1905. His parents, Richard William Ervin Sr. and Carrie Phillips Ervin and six of their children moved to Tallahassee in 1921. Justice Ervin began his political career the same year with his election by the Florida House of Representatives as its engrossing clerk. In 1964, he was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court as its 55th justice. Other survivors include a son, First District Court of Appeal Judge Richard W. Ervin III (and wife Carol) of Tallahassee; a daughter, Eve Ervin Ivory (and husband Dr. Peter Ivory) of Tallahassee; a brother, Robert M. Ervin of Tallahassee; a sister, Ruth Davis of Marianna; and six grandchildren.