Loretta Witczak Keil, M.D., 68, of Allentown, died March 3, 2024, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Born in Allentown, she was a daughter of the late Leo R. and Catherine (Turbedsky) Witczak. She was the wife of Bruce R. Keil for 41 years.

She was a 1974 graduate and class co-valedictorian of Allentown Central Catholic HS. She graduated from Lehigh University (1978) and Medical College of Pennsylvania (1980) in an accelerated six-year BA-MD program. She completed a three-year Internal Medicine Residency and a Fellowship as Chief Medical Resident in 1983 at what is now LVHN.

She began, in 1984, her 40-year employment at Sacred Heart Hospital and subsequently St. Luke’s-Sacred Heart, teaching Family Medicine Residents. In 1988, she became the youngest (and first female) Vice President-Medical Affairs in Sacred Heart Hospital history. She was, for one year, on the Hospital Board of Directors. She then returned to the Family Practice Residency Program, where she continued to teach until February of this year. In 2022, the Family Practice Residency renamed a prestigious faculty award “The Loretta Witczak Keil Faculty Teacher of the Year” award.

She participated for many years in Girl Scout leadership and judging competitions for the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Deanna Keil (Adrian) of Reston, Virginia and Alyssa Bistline (Christopher) of Thornton; two grandsons, Leo and Cole Bistline; two brothers, Jesse Witczak of Brookeville, Maryland and Joseph Witczak (Charlene) of Tumwater, Washington; and nine nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a sister-in-law, Pamela Witczak; and a son-in-law, Daniel Carik.

Contributions may be made to The Literacy Center or (visit https://theliteracycenter-lv.org/), 1132 Hamilton St., Suite 300, Allentown, PA 18101; or call 610-435-0680 Ext.804; or to Arthritis Foundation (visit www.arthritis.org/), 1355 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309; or call 1-800-283-7800.

Arrangements were made by Gilbert Funeral Home Inc., Whitehall.