W. Ronald Smith, 75, of New Jersey and Formerly of MD

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W. Ronald Smith, 75, of Egg Harbor Twp. passed away on Friday, April 17, 2015.

Smith enjoyed a career spanning more than 50 years in broadcasting, advertising and marketing the mid-Atlantic states. Smith most recently served as general manager of WMGM-TV in Linwood, N.J. from 2003-2013. He came to WMGM in 1989 as sales manager after a brief stint as a radio sales manager in Roanoke, Va. From 1987-1989 he owned and operated WCBG-AM in Chambersburg, Pa.

Smith’s advertising and broadcast management career began in the mid-1960s when he was a vice president at Adler Advertising, Washington, D.C. Smith and Warren Adler expanded the company’s operations to include broadcasting, with Smith acquiring and operating Baltimore’s WAYE-AM and Hagerstown’s WHAG-AM and FM for the company. In Jan. 1970, Smith successfully launched WHAG-TV in Hagerstown. Smith stayed with WHAG-TV for 17 years through several ownership changes, mostly as sales manager. While at WHAG, he briefly and concurrently owned and operated WAAT-FM in Johnstown, Pa.

Born in Baltimore, he began his broadcasting career as a weekend announcer at WFBR-AM while a senior at Catonsville High School. He would later work at WDMV-AM and WICO-AM on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. At WITH-AM, his shift followed that of personality Buddy Deane who would hire him as an announcer for WJZ-TV’s The Buddy Deane Show.

Smith was active in a number of business, civic and community organizations throughout his career. In his later years he was involved with Gilda’s Club South Jersey, Linwood, N.J.

He is survived by his son Kenneth R. Smith and his daughter Susan S. Smith, both of Crofton, Md. Ron is also survived by his brother Donald W. Smith (Michele), Stevensville, Md., and his first wife Peggy (nee Donovan) Smith, Crofton, Md. He is predeceased by his parents Wilton Albert and Anna Eileen (nee Brown) Smith, his stepmother Alice Elizabeth (nee Haywood) Smith and his second wife Lois Jane (nee Shobe) Smith.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Ron’s viewing Wednesday, April 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Jeffries and Keates Funeral Home, 228 Infield Ave. Northfield, 7 to 9 p.m., Friday, April 24,2015 at Robert E. Evans Funeral Home, 16000 Annapolis Rd. Bowie, MD 20715 and Saturday, April 25, 2015 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow in Lanham United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family requests in lieu of flowers please send donations in Ron’s memory to Gilda’s Club South Jersey, 700 New Road, Linwood NJ 08221.

—Information from the Robert E. Evans Funeral Home website.