Farewell, Friend

Our condolences to the family and acquaintances of 85-year old Ralph Waldo McGuffey, owner of McGuffey's Wrecker Service in Tallahassee, FL. He passed away from natural causes on Thursday, Aug. 6. Here's the WCTV news story of a tribute at his funeral:

A sea of tow trucks made their way from Quincy to Tallahassee, as a sign of respect for a man whose been in the wrecker business all his life.

More than 50 of the huge trucks took over the roads, making their way to the funeral of 85-year old Ralph Waldo McGuffey. He passed away Thursday, leaving behind a lifetime of working in the business he loved.

Those in attendance remember Ralph as a happy go lucky man, who would do anything for anyone.

"My son was like 16 years old he was on a tow truck over here and had some problems with it, he sent a man out, helped my son take care of the problem, wouldn't charge us a dime for helping us," says Spud White, who owns Gulf County Towing.

"I don't know of anybody who's come into contact with him that just hasn't absolutely fell in love with him. He was just a lovable likable man," says Rebecca Sheffield, Ralph's granddaughter.

Even towers who didn't work for Ralph say he treated everyone like family.

"I would consider him a father figure to me personally and to the whole industry, here in town and widespread," says Daniel Bartholf, the regional director for Florida Independent Towing Association.

"Everybody's in competition, but everybody's still like a big family that's how the wrecker business works," says Jeff Jones, of Jones Towing.

Ralph died of natural causes in his home, surrounded by people he loved.