Obituary of Tony Lee Zinn

Tony Lee Zinn, 95, passed away on Monday, July 20^, 2020, due to complications from Covid-19.  It wasn’t the way his family would have chosen but it happened quickly and without much pain.  We are grateful for the long joyful life he shared with us.

Tony grew up on a farm outside of Philippi, West Virginia.  He graduated from Philippi High School in 1943.  He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina (1946) and a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering from Washington University (1950).  He worked as an electrical engineer throughout his adult life working for the Atomic Energy Commission right after the Navy and then Monsanto Company in Texas City, Texas, Bendix Corporation in Ronceverte, West Virginia and Mine Safety Appliances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Lee married Carole Lenoir Sherrod on June 19^th, 1948.  She was the love of his life.  At his death they had been married 72 years.

They raised four kids, and enjoyed their life together.

Lee could fix/do just about anything.  He rebuilt a player piano’s guts for the home, ran a friend’s nursery for several years, worked on cars, paved the driveway, helped neighbors with projects and always fixed everything around the house.  He almost always had a vegetable garden wherever he lived. 

When Lee and Carole retired to Hillsborough, North Carolina, they worked on their beautiful landscape surrounding their home.  Lee also volunteered at Orange Congregations in Mission and Habitat for Humanity.  He was a member of New Hope Presbyterian Church.  Over the years Lee was an elder, deacon and treasurer of the church.  He worked on the cemetery committee and over saw the maintenance and building operations.  He was the guy with the keys!

When unable to remain in his home due to declining health, Lee lived at Brookshire Nursing Home.  He entertained the staff with his humor all the time!  A great big thank you to the staff who looked after Lee so diligently.

He was preceded in death by his parents Glenn and Addie (Wince) Zinn; mother and father-in-law, Robert and Roberta (Engelhardt) Sherrod; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elmer and Rita Zinn; Warren and Judy Zinn and his sister Vivian Kruse and her husband Ed. 

Lee is survived by his wife Carole Zinn, his four children; Terry Zinn, Robert (Jenny) Zinn, Jay (Terese) Zinn and Robin (John) Zinn-Owhonda, and his three grandchildren; Lee Joseph Zinn, Rebisi Owhonda and Ihoma Owhonda.

His family knows how lucky they were to have his exacting wit, wisdom and love for so very long.  We will miss him tremendously.  Although he is gone from this realm, our memories of all the good times and love he bestowed on us will comfort and sustain us in our lives.

Due to the pandemic, a memorial service will be held next year when, hopefully, we can all gather and honor Tony Lee Zinn.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Orange Congregations In Mission, 300 Millstone Drive, Hillsborough, NC 27278 or New Hope Presbyterian Building Fund, 4701 NC Route 86, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Walke'rs Funeral Home of Hillsborough is assisting the Zinn family.