The Meredith, Sr

The Rev. Ronald S. Meredith, age 78, of Cambridge, MD, died at his home Wednesday afternoon, July 8, 2009.

Born on January 25, 1931 in Cambridge, MD, he was the son of the late Thomas V. Meredith, Sr. and Florence Mae Bradley Meredith.

He was educated in schools in Cambridge, Omaha University, Salisbury State and Oklahoma A&M.

On September 14, 1963 he married the former Bettye Mae Dail.

In November of 1947, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corp just before it became the U.S. Air Force. In 1949 while stationed at Thornborough A.F. Base in Cold Bay Alaska, he was appointed Base Fire Chief. At the time, it was believed that he was the youngest person worldwide to ever serve in that position. He was eighteen years old. From 1950 to 1953 he was stationed at Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Bellevue, Nebraska as Base Fire Inspector. Following honorable discharge, he was appointed regional vice president for Midwest Builders Inc. of Omaha. In 1955 he began employment at Metropolitan Utilities District of Omaha. In 1957, he organized a Class B Fastpitch Softball Team that had a record of sixteen wins and two losses. In 1959, the record thirty-nine wins, two losses and was unofficially ranked #4 in the nation for their class by the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). In 1959 he was appointed deputy regional commissioner for AAA. For the seven states of Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Minnesota and Kansas.

In 1959 he returned to his hometown of Cambridge, MD where he entered the insurance business with his father. In 1967 he began the Meredith Insurance Agency. In 1968 he began Meredith Oil Company and sold both companies in 1973.

In 1973 he began service with the State of Maryland Investigative Services Unit. He retired in 1994 and was “called” into the ministry while attending Spedden’s United Methodist Church. He was examined and approved at a charge conference held at Beckwith United Methodist Church in 1976.

In 1983 he began studies at the Eastern Bible Institute on a part-time basis. In 1988 he was ordained as a Deacon.

In 1990 he graduated from seminary with a Pastoral Ministries Diploma. For many years, he was a member of the First Baptist Church where he served as Chairman of the Deacons and many other positions.

In 1995 he became a volunteer with Coastal Hospice.

In 1996 he was ordained as an Elder.

In 1997 he began continuing education classes at Salisbury University.

In 1998 he was appointed Red Cross Chaplain. Also in 1998, he united with Zion United Methodist Church where he served as Senior Adults Pastor until his health forced him to retire.

He was a member of the American Legion Post #91, Cambridge and the Cambridge Moose Lodge #1211.

Rev. Meredith was a past member of the Rescue Fire Company, BPOE Elks Lodge #1272, Neck District Volunteer Fire Department, Coastal Hospice, Omaha/Council Bluffs, Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Surviving besides his wife of 45 years Bettye Mae Meredith of Cambridge, MD, are seven children Ronald S. Meredith, Jr. and his wife Janice of Omaha, NE, Kathie Clausen and her husband Steve of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Jeff Meredith and his wife Mary of Seaford, DE, Karen Turner and her husband Keith of Cambridge, MD, Sue Weatherwax and her husband Dave of W. Terre Haute, IN, Deb Jensen and her husband Dean of Underwood, Iowa, Rhonda Fleming and her husband Bill “Farmer” Fleming of Cambridge, MD; a “special” daughter Louise King from England whom spent a year with the family as an AFS student from 1981-1982; two sisters Elizabeth “Betty” Mills and Anna Ruth Penn, both of Cambridge, MD; 13 grandchildren Jeffrey Meredith and his wife Angela, Stacey Sanders and her husband Ryan, Jessica DiNunizo and her husband Dominick, Kirsten Mullins and fiancé Carly Brittingham, Ryan Turner, Cory Kinman, Jason Kinman, Joshua Barker, Rachel Meredith, Robert Meredith, Will Fleming, Madison Fleming and Jadyn Clausen; three great-grandchildren Natalie Sanders, Jake Sanders and Noah Kinman; numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Preceding him in death besides his parents were five brothers Thomas V. Meredith, LeRoy B. Meredith, John Meredith, Kenny W. Meredith and Sheldon Meredith.

The family will receive friends Sunday evening, July 12th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., 308 High St., Cambridge, MD. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 13th at Zion United Methodist Church, 612 Locust St., Cambridge, MD, where the family will also receive friends one hour prior to the service. Officiating at the service will be The Rev. Dr. Reg Mills, nephew of the deceased from Springfield, Illinois. Also officiating at the service will be The Rev. Bill Davis, Pastor of Zion United Methodist Church.

Private burial with Military Honors will follow at the Seward-Dail Family Cemetery, Casson’s Neck , Cambridge, MD, led by The Rev. Delmer Willey. Pallbearers will be the grandchildren.


Expressions of sympathy may be made by making memorial offerings in Rev. Meredith’s memory to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802-1733; American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Doris Weber, 5163 Maple Dam Rd., Cambridge, MD 21613; Zion United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 612 Locust St., Cambridge, MD 21613; or to the charity of one’s choice.