Judge William Heber Dithrich was born on October 25, 1886, in Pittsburgh. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy, then Washington and Jefferson College, and finally from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Later in his career, he also received an honorary LL.D. from his undergraduate institution, Washington and Jefferson College.
Judge Dithrich served in the US Army during World War I as a first lieutenant in the cavalry division. He also spent a portion of his career in politics, serving in the 1917, 1919, and 1921 terms of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Afterwards, Judge Dithrich served as the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In 1924, he became solicitor of Allegheny County.
Judge Dithrich was appointed to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 1930 and held this position until his appointment to the Superior Court in 1945. Judge Dithrich passed away on April 18, 1953.