Leonard Paul Zink

He was born in Buffalo, NY on October 13, 1923, to the late Leonard and Emma (Giegle) Zink. He married Annie Lee Burcham on May 22, 1944 (who passed November 12, 1998). He retired from Fairchild Industries after 21 years of service as a machinist. He was a member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed playing golf and traveling.

He defended our freedom serving in the United States Army during World War II in Battery D, 551st AAA AW Battalion as a Heavy Machine Gunner. He was part of the “Ghost Corps” that , as quoted in the New York Hearld Times 10/1/1944, “was held in secrecy for weeks which was Major General Walton H. Walker’s 20th Corps as the spearhead of Lieutenant General George S. Patton’s 3d Army’s great Eastward drive across France. Within 15 days they crossed six rivers, the Loire, Seine, Vesle, Marke, Aisne and the Keuse, to liberate scores of towns and cities including Chartres, Kelum, Montereau, Fontainebleau, Chateau-Thieri, Epernay, Reins and Verdun. Incessantly pushing the Germans back and off balance, the 20th Corps captured or destroyed 200 enemy tanks, 350 personnel carriers, 500 guns of large caliber, eighty planes and ninety vehicles. Enemy troops killed or captured exceeded 20,000.” He received the American Theater Service Metal; EAME Service Medal with 5 bronze service stars; Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

Leonard is survived by two children, Wayne Zink and Denise Zink, both of Kernersville, NC; his grandson, Paul Southern (Ashley), of Winston-Salem, NC; two sisters, Shirley Piechocki and Eleanor Pecoraro of Cheektowaga, NY and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held Saturday January 4, 2014, 2:00 pm, at Forsyth Memorial Park Chapel, 3771 Yadkinville Rd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106 . The family will visit Friday January 3, 2014, 6:00-8:00pm, at Vogler and Sons Reynolda Chapel, 2951 Reynolda Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106.