Health-care worker Earl L. Brinkley, 66

Earl L. Brinkley, who worked in health care and counseling, loved a good game of pinochle and liked to cruise the Caribbean, died of a heart attack Saturday. He was 66 and lived in West Philadelphia.

Earl visited private homes for a health-care agency and worked for several years for the Elwyn Institute in Delaware County as a counselor.

He was born in Philadelphia to Louise and Percy Brinkley, and attended John Bartram High School.

He and the former Tina Jones were married in 1973.

Besides his wife, he is survived by their two children, Lee and Celestine; and from a previous relationship, four daughters, Tanya Miller, Robin Manire and Tanya and Vicky Paige; three sons, Byron Cassell, Kevin Brinkley and Earl Brinkley; a sister, Joan Jackson; two brothers, Jerell and James Brinkley; 30 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Services: 11 a.m. Saturday at the Julian V. Hawkins Funeral Home, 5308 Haverford Ave. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery. *

-John F. Morrison