Ron Smart passed away on January 26, 2023, in Marietta, Georgia, with his loving wife of 50 years, Jane Good Smart, by his side. He had just passed his 80th birthday.
Ron was born on January 17, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Betty Jane and Elmer Hipchen. He was their only child together. Betty Jane subsequently married Richard Smart, who adopted Ron and raised him as a son. Elmer subsequently married Jean Hipchen. Between the Smarts and the Hipchens, Ron had six younger siblings.
Ron was known to all as a selfless man with the heart of a faithful servant. He exemplified the spirit of Christian giving. He never sat still, instead he was always finding ways to help, whether it was to vacuum a room, bring his wife a blanket, or actively tend to young children, which was one of his favorite activities. He was a man of good cheer, bringing laughter to family gatherings with his tried-and-true repertoire of one-liner jokes.
Ron’s father’s career in sales moved the Smart family from Pittsburgh to Massachusetts, and ultimately to California when Ron was 16 years old. Ron graduated from Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California, in 1961. After studying in junior college, Ron enlisted in the Army in 1964, and worked in military intelligence while stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1968, then obtained a bachelor’s degree in
marketing from California State College at Long Beach (now known as California State University, Long Beach).
After graduation, Ron began what became his lifelong career working in sales for General Mills. It was early in his career in 1972 when Ron met the love of his life, Jane Good. It was “love at first sight” when they met in July, got engaged in October, and married on December 19, 1972, in a blush-and-brown themed wedding at the home of the bride’s parents in Thousand Oaks, California.
Ron and Jane moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California, where they lived in various homes during the course of their long
marriage. Ron was the proud father of three children, Steven Lydell (deceased), Emily Jane, and David Landon. He doted over all three of them endlessly, loving nothing more than to play with, entertain, and protect them. That passion for children continued through the generations to his three grandchildren, Sundance, Clayton, and Anthony, and his great-grandchildren, Micah and Layla.
In December 2009, Ron retired from General Mills after 38 years of service, and moved with Jane and daughter Emily to Kennesaw, Georgia. Even in retirement, Ron never rested. He volunteered at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, including teaching 4th grade boys’ Sunday school. He loved spending time with his Georgia family, including sister-in-law Nancy Hull, his nephew Tony, nieces Christy and Dawn, and their children.
This October, despite his failing health, Ron joyfully celebrated his 50th
wedding anniversary at a party attended by dozens of Georgia and out-of-town friends and family. Ron was a well-loved man who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Good Smart; his living children, Emily Angellatta (Michael) and David Smart (Melissa); grandchildren, Sundance Jennings, Clayton Peters, and Anthony Angellatta; great-grandchildren, Micah and Layla Jennings; siblings, Susie Gallagher (Greg), Bill Smart, Tom Smart, Deborah Sloan (John), Mark Hipchen (Evelyn), and Suzanne Grimm; and many siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A memorial service honoring the life of Ron Smart will be held at 10:30 a.m. on February 16, 2023, in the A Building (chapel) at Woodstock First Baptist Church, followed by a graveside military service at 12:30 p.m. at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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