A former owner of The Apopka Chief and The Planter, and a longtime community supporter well after his retirement 40 years ago, W.R. “Mac” McGuffin died Tuesday, June 11, at Advent Health Apopka. He was 96.
McGuffin and his family moved to Apopka in 1964 after he retired as a master sergeant and intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force. He began The Planter in October 1965 as a competitor newspaper to The Apopka Chief before purchasing the Chief two years later and publishing both newspapers until selling them and retiring in 1979.
He also owned several other local businesses, Apopka Printing, Apopka Photo, and Apopka Office Supply.
In addition, McGuffin published Florida Boater magazine and College Park Record, an Orlando-area newspaper.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores, who died in 2000.
“He taught me so much in his life, and continues to teach me even in his death,” son Pat McGuffin wrote in a Facebook post.
“I used to say that Dad taught me how to think and my mom, who passed 19 years ago, taught me to love. I was wrong. He taught me how to love, too, in so many ways.
“Dad didn’t just talk; he accomplished. His push in life: get the job done. He loved his family deeply, his community continually, and his country without fail.”
McGuffin is survived by his son, Patrick, and daughter, Kathleen, as well as by another son, Mike Perry; brother, Sandy, of California; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation is set for Saturday, June 22, from 10-11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Apopka, 201 S. Park Avenue.
The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Loomis Family Funeral Homes is handling the arrangements, and a reception will follow at Loomis, 420 W. Main St., Apopka.
The full story appears on page 1A of the Friday, June 14, issue of The Apopka Chief.
