Roll Call Tribute
John Zink '62 June 12, 2017 1:24 PM updated: June 12, 2017 1:28 PM
Published in the Lancaster (OH) Eagle-Gazette on June 11, 2017
Col. John E. Zink(1923 - 2017)
Col. John E. Zink, ret. USAF
SMITHVILLE, TX: Col. John E. Zink, ret. USAF, of Smithville, Texas, died January 10, 2017 at the age of 93. He was born August 6, 1923 in Bowling Green, Ky. to William and Norine Zink. He moved at 6 months to Rushville, Ohio where he lived the next 18 years. He joined the Army Air Force in 1942 and was selected for pilot training. He flew P-38's with the 339th fighter squadron in the Pacific accumulating 157 missions and 550 combat hours. After the war, he married Mary Lou Reese of Lancaster and continued with the Air Force. In 1959 he was assigned to Bryan, TX where he attended Texas A&M, graduating in 1962 with a BSEE. He retired from active duty in 1966 with the rank of Colonel.
In civilian life he worked for TRW in California and then Systems Development Corp in California, Washington DC, Tennessee and Colorado. Finally retiring in Colorado, he moved to Texas several years later where he lived the rest of his life.
As a retiree, he served on the Airport Advisory Board in Smithville, the Bastrop County Honor Guard, and volunteered at the Recycling Center in Smithville. He attended the 339th and the P-38 reunions every year having a great time reminiscing with the fellows with whom he had spent such an important time of his life. He enjoyed remodeling projects, gardening, and reading. Every vacation he ever took involved returning to Lancaster to visit with family and friends.
He took great pride and pleasure in going on an Honor Flight to Washington DC, but a greater achievement was attending the 75th high school reunion for Rushville High School in 2016. He enjoyed seeing fellow students that he had not seen in many years and regaled his family with stories about them.
Survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou; 3 daughters, Sharon Zink and Candace Zink of Lancaster, and Rebecca (Doug) Hudson of Texas; 6 grandchildren, Mary (Will) Ramey, Sarah Karpovich, both of Ohio, and Lilly, Grace, Isabelle, and Hallie Hudson of Texas; 3 great-grandchildren Will, Camille and Jackson Ramey; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Dunkle, Linda Kilbarger and friend Larry Schooley, Mary Elizabeth Reese, and Helen Reese of Lancaster, and Claire Winegardner of Chillicothe, also numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service took place in Smithville, Texas. Internment will be June 16 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Smithville Food Pantry or the First United Methodist Church in Smithville, Texas.
Col. John E. Zink(1923 - 2017)
Col. John E. Zink, ret. USAF
SMITHVILLE, TX: Col. John E. Zink, ret. USAF, of Smithville, Texas, died January 10, 2017 at the age of 93. He was born August 6, 1923 in Bowling Green, Ky. to William and Norine Zink. He moved at 6 months to Rushville, Ohio where he lived the next 18 years. He joined the Army Air Force in 1942 and was selected for pilot training. He flew P-38's with the 339th fighter squadron in the Pacific accumulating 157 missions and 550 combat hours. After the war, he married Mary Lou Reese of Lancaster and continued with the Air Force. In 1959 he was assigned to Bryan, TX where he attended Texas A&M, graduating in 1962 with a BSEE. He retired from active duty in 1966 with the rank of Colonel.
In civilian life he worked for TRW in California and then Systems Development Corp in California, Washington DC, Tennessee and Colorado. Finally retiring in Colorado, he moved to Texas several years later where he lived the rest of his life.
As a retiree, he served on the Airport Advisory Board in Smithville, the Bastrop County Honor Guard, and volunteered at the Recycling Center in Smithville. He attended the 339th and the P-38 reunions every year having a great time reminiscing with the fellows with whom he had spent such an important time of his life. He enjoyed remodeling projects, gardening, and reading. Every vacation he ever took involved returning to Lancaster to visit with family and friends.
He took great pride and pleasure in going on an Honor Flight to Washington DC, but a greater achievement was attending the 75th high school reunion for Rushville High School in 2016. He enjoyed seeing fellow students that he had not seen in many years and regaled his family with stories about them.
Survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou; 3 daughters, Sharon Zink and Candace Zink of Lancaster, and Rebecca (Doug) Hudson of Texas; 6 grandchildren, Mary (Will) Ramey, Sarah Karpovich, both of Ohio, and Lilly, Grace, Isabelle, and Hallie Hudson of Texas; 3 great-grandchildren Will, Camille and Jackson Ramey; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Dunkle, Linda Kilbarger and friend Larry Schooley, Mary Elizabeth Reese, and Helen Reese of Lancaster, and Claire Winegardner of Chillicothe, also numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service took place in Smithville, Texas. Internment will be June 16 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Smithville Food Pantry or the First United Methodist Church in Smithville, Texas.
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