Carol L. (Kinder) Zink

Carol L. Zink, 85 years old, passed away at 12:30 a.m. on Friday, February 3, 2023 at Signature Healthcare  in Bremen, IN.  Mrs. Zink was born on June 16, 1937 in Flint, MI to the late Raymond and Rebecca (Sanders) Kinder.  She was raised in Flint, MI and lived there until 1958.  She lived in Lexington, KY from 1959-1963, moving back to Flint for two years and then lived in Lansing, MI until 1971.  Carol was a resident of South Bend from 1971-1982 and moved to Lansing from 1982-1999.  She returned to the South Bend area in 1999.

Throughout the 1960’s, Carol was a professional transcriptionist, typing and editing papers for the nationally-known researchers Dr. Leroy Augenstein and Dr. Barnett Rosenberg in the biophysics department of Michigan State University. During the 1970’s she worked at Church Growth Services in South Bend, and then returned to Lansing in the 1980’s to work again at Michigan State.  She was also a professional pianist and organist, accompanying singers and gospel quartets throughout her entire career.  She played  for revivals, camp meetings and recording artists across the midwest. When she moved back to South Bend in 1999, she became the pianist for Evangel Heights United Methodist Church in South Bend, and remained there until 2017.  

Carol loved her family, her dear friends and animals of all kinds.  She also loved the Lord with all her heart, and wanted nothing more for her family and friends than to experience that love she knew so well.  She enjoyed being a Stephen’s minister at her church, and continued ministering at the nursing facility in Bremen that became her home in 2018 through counseling and piano-playing.

Mrs. Zink is survived by her two daughters, Rebecca Wilson of Bremen and Carolyn Zink of Iron City, MI; son, Andrew Zink of Aurora, IL; eight grandchildren, Anthony (Courtney) Wilson, Benjamin (Maureen) Wilson, Maurice (Chelsey) Wilson, Cassandra (Chris) Beachy, Joshua (Julie) Hupp, Jessica Scallions, Jamie Scallions, and Joseph Gonzalez; and five great grandchildren, Caleb, Parker and Sawyer Wilson, Nelsen Hupp, and Rynlee Sue Wilson.  Mrs. Zink is also survived by her brother, Donald (Martha) Kinder of Burton, MI and nephew, David (Judy) Kinder.  Along with her parents, Carol was preceded in death by her son, Nelsen Zink and son-in-law Michael Wilson.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023 at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend.  Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.  Friends may visit with the family beginning at 10:00 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Carol L. Zink may be donated to Pet Refuge, 4626 S. Burnet Drive, South Bend, IN  46614 or to Center for Hospice, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN  46545.  Online condolences may be offered to the Carol’s family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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