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2007 "Marvin Zanders started career in high school," The Apopka Chief

Collection

The William Gladden Jr. Collection

Format

Original newspaper clipping

Date

2007-10-26

Location

Apopka, Florida, United States of America.

People

William Gladden Jr.; William Gladden; "Perrine Slim"

Marvin Clyde Zanders Sr.; Marvin Clyde Zanders; Marvin Zanders

Historical Background

A printed newspaper article from The Apopka Chief titled "Marvin Zanders started career in high school," featuring a black-and-white portrait photograph of the subject. The article, written under the column "Perrine Slim Bits 'n' Tips," profiles Marvin Clyde Zanders Sr. and chronicles his lifelong pursuit of becoming a funeral director and embalmer.

Beginning in the mid-1940s, Zanders worked part-time at Winter Park Cemetery and later at Stark & Strong Funeral Home while attending Hungerford High School, commuting to Orlando alongside fellow student Albert McCray. He later partnered with Willie J. Bruton to form Bruton & Zanders Funeral Home at 31 West Michael Gladden Blvd. in Apopka. Zanders attended the New York School of Embalming in the mid-1950s, gaining experience at funeral homes throughout New York and New Jersey before returning to Central Florida. After navigating legal hurdles and operating a makeshift funeral home on Park and Washington Avenue in Apopka, he eventually constructed a permanent facility at 232 West Michael Gladden Blvd. in 1970. The article also recognizes the transition of administrative leadership to his daughter, Helen J. Zanders.

Donor

Mr. Tarence Brown

​

The Michael Gladden Jr.

Digital Archive

Elio Singer, Curator and Digital Archivist

Undergraduate Researcher

University of Central Florida

The Gladden Archive and its content are not associated with the Apopka Historical Society.

 

© 2026 by Elio Singer.

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