By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Arnold George Brinker, the owner of Airport Ford in Florence, loved to sell cars so much that his idea of retirement meant starting his workday a couple of hours later.

"He sort of semi-retired. He'd go in a little later as the years went on - maybe at 10 in the morning instead of 8," said his wife, Dorothy Mayleben Brinker.

Mr. Brinker, who was in the car business for nearly 70 years, died Friday at his Fort Mitchell home of pneumonia. He was 89.

"He was absolutely devoted to the business," his wife said. "He was a man of principle and integrity and he passed it on to his children."

Raised in Covington, Mr. Brinker graduated from Covington Catholic High School in 1932, and then began custom designing and handcrafting tennis racquets.

A few years later, he began selling cars with the late Joseph A. Kuchle at his dealership in Erlanger called Joseph A. Kuchle & Co.

Mr. Kuchle eventually left the business, which was renamed Airport Ford when it moved to Florence in the late 1970s.

Mr. Brinker was a member of the Cincinnati Ford Dealers Association and director of the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association. He was also past president for the parent associations at both Covington Latin High School and Edgecliff College.

A member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Fort Mitchell, he directed a men's retreat at Marydale Retreat Center in Erlanger for 40 years.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Brinker is survived by five sons, Thomas of Mount Adams, Dr. C. Michael of Villa Hills, Gregory of Crescent Springs, Barry of Los Angeles and D. Anthony of Fort Wright; three daughters, Susan Mullins of Fort Mitchell, Arlene Luebbe of Crestview Hills, and Janet Franke of Delhi Township; two brothers, the Rev. Paul J. Brinker and the Rev. Louis B. Brinker, both of Fort Thomas; and 18 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Church, 2409 Dixie Hwy, Fort Mitchell. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Entombment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Fort Mitchell.

Memorials: Covington Catholic High School, 1600 Dixie Hwy., Park Hills, 41011, or to Marydale Retreat Center, 945 Donaldson Hwy., Erlanger, 41018.

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Email: nhamilton@enquirer.com