Charles Talbott Zink

Charles Talbott Zink, 87, passed away peacefully at home on May 27, 2025. Charles was born on October 27, 1937, in Long Beach, California, as ultimately the middle son of Rear Admiral William Talbott Zink and Nellie Grace Hoskins Zink.

As a child in a career Navy family, Charles attended five elementary schools in eight years during the time his father was away through World War II. Following the conclusion of the War, the family settled in Washington, D.C. where his father took a position at the Pentagon and Charles graduated with honors from Coolidge High School. He received a full scholarship nomination into the NROTC program at Princeton University, where he was a member of the Quadrangle Club, and graduated in June of 1959 with a degree from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Upon graduation he received a commission into the U.S. Navy as an Ensign. During his three years of active duty in the Navy he completed courses in the Naval School of Justice, the Terrier Missile School, and Nuclear Weapons School and was assigned to the Sixth Fleet cruiser USS Canberra for a world cruise. He excelled at every undertaking, earning promotions to Lieutenant JG and to Lieutenant. In 1963 he requested and received an honorable discharge from active service in the Navy on the Navy’s first nuclear powered cruiser, the USS Long Beach, into the US Naval Reserves, in which he remained until 1972. Following discharge from active duty, he matriculated to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, earning his law degree with honors in 1965.

Upon graduation from the University of Virginia, Charles joined the Atlanta law firm of Hansell, Post, Brandon & Dorsey, which at the time was the largest law firm in the southeast. His fondest memories of law practice were from the days of “the old Hansell Post law firm” where he learned under the tutelage of Allen Post and made so many life-long friends. He practiced in the area of taxation, primarily focusing on federal and state income taxes with an emphasis of corporations, partnerships and joint ventures, real estate matters, mergers and acquisitions and controversy resolution, representing clients in state and federal courts at every level, with the highlight being an ad valorem tax case that he argued to the U.S. Supreme Court. He remained with the Hansell, Post law firm through its amalgamation into the international law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, but ultimately joined the firm of McKenna, Long & Aldridge (now Dentons) to head its tax department, which he did until his retirement at the end of 2012 at the age of 75. He was twice recognized by Atlanta Magazine as a Georgia Super Lawer in the Tax category.

Charles loved classical music, World War II history, and old Corvettes and tried perennially to love the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons. He gave up his Falcons season tickets decades ago in favor of spending that time on Sundays playing golf with his friends at Capital City Club, which he joined in 1977. For nearly 20 years his Saturdays were spent showing his 1957 little red Corvette at Corvette and classic car shows, where he won numerous 1st and 2nd place trophies and Best in Show awards.

Equal to if not stronger than Charles’ passion for music, history, and Corvettes was his passion for animals, and specifically dogs. He had a huge soft spot in his heart especially for those that were older and harder to adopt. He fed this passion with service on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Humane Society for 18 years, its Executive Committee for 14 of those years, and as President for a one-year term. Before every meeting at the AHS he would go down the rows housing the older dogs, offering each one a treat and a quick scratch behind the ears or a rub between the eyes. Charles had seven dogs during his adult life, all “graduates” of the Atlanta Humane Society.

Charles’ stated mission in life was to provide for his family. He was a devoted husband and father. His long term law partners and friends often referred to him as “one of the good guys.” He and his beloved wife Debbie, to whom he was married for more than 41 years, together endured the loss of both of their daughters, Charlotte in 2006 at the age of 15 and Sydney just earlier this year at the age of 30, and were planning to share together in the joy of their son Talbott’s marriage in June to Madeleine Ledet, whom Charles adored. Charles was a true one-of-a kind, bred from a mold of quiet strength, sacrifice, and integrity that no longer exists. He will be deeply missed by his family and few friends who survive him.

In addition to his wife, Debbie, and son Talbott, Charles is survived by his sister-in-law Nelle Zink of Duluth, Georgia, his sister-in-law Terry Freeman of Woodside, California, his sister-in-law June Burks of Fernandina Beach, Florida, and a niece and several nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his two daughters, and his older brother Bob Zink, younger brother Allen Zink, and brother-in-law Doug Burks.

The family wishes to thank the staff and caregivers of Caravita Home Care and of Capstone Home Hospice, with a special thank you to Sherry Puckett who became a special caregiver friend to Charles during his last few months.

The family will hold a private service for Charles to celebrate his life and to commit him into the hands of the Lord to be with his beloved daughters.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation in Charles’ memory to the Atlanta Humane Society, 1551 Perry Boulevard N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30318.

The loss of Charles from our lives leaves a void in our hearts that we could not have imagined, but the legacy he left us will forever be honored and cherished.