Ernest John Getty was born on March 26, 1900 in Michigan as the son of George Frances and Olive (Merryfield) Getty.

 He married Eva Lorena Fisk on June 29, 1924 and they had two children:

  1. Bernard Ernest Getty

  2. Alberta Leona (Getty, Delich) Yon

Amelia Meyer Palouse was Ernest's second wife and on August 6, 1951, he married his third wife,  Anna Arminita Gollock in Steuben, Indiana.

Ernest died on October 26, 1976 at the age of 76 in Standish, Arenac County, Michigan. He is buried at the Oregon Township Cemetery in Columbiaville, Lapeer County, Michigan.