Ralph Zink

Ralph Martin Zink, 89, of Chesterfield died March 18, 2010 at the Dunlop House Assisted Living in Colonial Height. Born in Huntingburg, Indiana, he was one of nine children of Joseph Zink and Bertha Luebbers. Growing up, Ralph was involved in scouting and semi-professional soft ball and basketball teams. Ralph held jobs working at a pottery and a hatchery from June 1938 to Oct 1942. In 1940 at age 19, Ralph enrolled In the Civilian Conservation Corps where he worked as a truck driver and laborer. Ralph enlisted in the Army in October 1942 at age 21 and was stationed at Fort Lee, VA. He worked as a Technical Sergeant with the Quartermaster Training Regiment and served for almost one year in the southern Philippines as part of the Philippine liberation. While stationed at Fort Lee, he met his late wife June Stafford and was married on December 28, 1944. In July 1946, Ralph joined the Coast and Geodetic Survey as a survey aide. In 1950, Ralph was surveying in Alaska when his only child, a daughter Libby was born. In 1959, Ralph and his family moved to Alexandria, VA when Ralph assumed the position of geodetic technician at the Department of Commerce, which later became the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in Washington, DC. Ralph retired in April 1976 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration where he was Administrative Officer for National Geodetic Survey, after more than 33 years of service to the government. Ralph had a long and distinguished career in scouting. In the 1960s, Ralph served as the scoutmaster of a Boy Scout troop at Saint Maryâ??s School in Alexandria. He became a leader in regional activities of the Boy Scouts of America, serving as a committee member of the Northern Virginia Catholic Committee on Scouting. In that capacity, he took charge of the annual retreat for scouts, making an invaluable contribution to the spiritual lives of thousands of boy scouts. In recognition of these achievements, Ralph received the Saint George Award presented by the Northern VA Catholic Committee on Scouting in 1969. Ralph also helped Libby and June with local Girl Scout activities during these years. In 1964, a collie joined the household and the family became involved in breeding, training, and exhibiting collies. This family hobby became the focus of their lives for many years. From supporting Libby in breeding and showing collies, Ralph and June went on to raise and show prize winning collies of their own for many years. After moving to Chesterfield County in 1977, the Zinks became active in a local collie club. For years they also worked with local canine rescue organizations. Ralph is survived by his daughter Libby Pemberton of Fairfax Station, VA, his granddaughter Kelsie Welch Morrissette and her husband Matthew Morrissette of Lewisville, Colorado, and a brother Donald Zink in Indiana. A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the SPCA of Petersburg-Colonial Heights, PO Box 1174, Petersburg, VA 23804.