OUR ATTORNEYS
The seasoned attorneys at Crabbs & Crabbs have a combined total of over 70 years of experience providing support and representation in a wide variety of legal areas, including family law, estate planning and administration, name changes, adoptions, Will contests and Orphans’ Court litigation, and incapacity/guardianship.
John M. Crabbs
Education:
- Delone Catholic High School
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of Baltimore School of Law, Heuisler Honor Society
Past and Current Community Activities:
- York County Bar Association, Member
- York County Estate Planning and Probate Law Section, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- Herbert B. Cohen Inns of Court, Member
- Greater Hanover Housing Corporation for the Aged and Disabled, Board Member and President
- Hanover Chapter of the American Red Cross, Board Member and former President
- BPO Elks Hanover Lodge #763, Member
- Hanover Exchange Club, Member
- Hanover Exchange Club Scholarship Committee, Member and former President
- The Hanover Camp (Potter County), Member and President
- Eichelberger Performing Arts Center, Member and Secretary
- St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Member
Interests
- Hunting
- Politics and History
- Spending time with grandchildren
John M. Crabbs was born and raised in Hanover, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Delone Catholic High School and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore, where he was awarded membership in the Heuisler Honor Society.
After graduation and a Clerkship to the Honorable Charles E. Orth, Jr., of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, John practiced in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. He returned to Hanover in 1982 and has practiced in nearly every facet of law there since.
In addition to running a successful law practice, John has served as Director and President of Greater Hanover Housing Corporation; Director and President of the Hanover Chapter of the American Red Cross; Director and Secretary of the Eichelberger Performing Arts Center; and member and past President and Chairman of the Scholarship Committee of the Exchange Club of Hanover. He, along with his wife Muriel, raised three children.
John’s hobbies include the study of economics, reading, playing tennis, hunting, and maintaining and riding vintage BMW motorcycles.
Muriel Anne Crabbs
Education:
- Archbishop Keough High School
- University of Baltimore
- University of Baltimore School of Law
Past and Current Community Activities:
- York County Bar Association, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pro Bono Award Recipient
- York County Bar Stools, Cast Member
- York-Adams Community Tennis Association, Volunteer
- York-Adams Community Tennis Association, Volunteer of the Year (2016)
- St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Member
Interests/Hobbies
- Golf
- Tennis
- Gardening
- Spending time with grandchildren
Muriel Anne Crabbs was born and raised in Catonsville, Maryland. She received her BA and JD from the University of Baltimore. Before moving to Hanover, Muriel practiced law in Baltimore, but also worked as a real estate agent and as a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Business.
After moving to Hanover with her husband John and daughter Ruth in 1982, Muriel joined the York County District Attorney’s office. She later joined John in private practice and has primarily practiced in the field of family law. Over the years, Muriel has received several awards for her pro bono work.
With John, Muriel raised three children: Ruth, Jake and Eva. When not working, she can most often be found in her garden, on the tennis court, or participating in fundraising and community outreach activities with the York Adams Community Tennis Association.
Ruth Crabbs Gunnell
Education:
- South Western High School
- Lebanon Valley College, summa cum laude
- George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School)
Past and Current Community Activities:
- York County Bar Association, Member
- York County Bar Association, Board Member and Secretary
- York County Bar Association, Outstanding Member of the Year Award Recipient
- York County Family Law Section, Member
- York County Estate Planning and Probate Law Section, Member
- Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
- Herbert B. Cohen Inns of Court, Member and Board Member
- St. Bartholomew’s United Church Church, Member
- Hanover Symphony Orchestra, Board Member and President
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
- Girls Hope of Pittsburgh Young Leadership Board, Member and President
Interests/Hobbies
- Hiking
- Fitness
- Travel
- Raising her daughters
Ruth Crabbs Gunnell is the daughter of John and Muriel Crabbs. Born and raised in Hanover, she attended school in the South Western School District. She graduated from Lebanon Valley College summa cum laude and received her JD from George Mason University School of Law (now Antonin Scalia Law School). Throughout law school, Ruth worked for a prominent law firm in Arlington, Virginia that specialized in zoning and land use.
After law school, Ruth served as law clerk to the Honorable Stephen P. Linebaugh in York County, Pennsylvania, and then as a volunteer federal law clerk to the Honorable Lisa Pupo Lenihan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
For several years, Ruth worked as a trial attorney at a firm in downtown Pittsburgh, practicing in the state and federal courts. There, her areas of practice included personal injury, admiralty/maritime law, municipal law, landlord/tenant actions, insurance defense, defamation, and legal malpractice. In 2016, Ruth returned to Hanover and joined Crabbs & Crabbs.
In Pittsburgh, Ruth sat on and was President of the Young Leadership Board of Girls Hope of Pittsburgh. She now sits on the Board of Directors of the Hanover Symphony Orchestra and is active in the York County Bar Association. She lives in Hanover with her husband and two daughters.
