John Francis Nolan

John Francis Nolan passed away peacefully at his home in Lillington, North Carolina on Saturday, September 13, 2025. His funeral was held in North Carolina.

John is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Doris Johnson Nolan. The two met in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later retired to Doris' hometown in North Carolina. They shared a deep love of golf, John's favorite sport, and played regularly together until he was about 90 years old. John was also an avid fan of the Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds and held season tickets for decades. He was honored at the Cincinnati Reds Ford Oval of Honor Award in 2019.

John was a Korean War Army Veteran, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After his military service, he entered the automobile business in 1956. He worked his way up through various dealership positions, while attending college classes at the University of Cincinnati. With the help of Ford Motor Company's Dealer Development Program, he was able to purchase the dealership in 1970 where he was the General Manager of Beasley Ford and changed the dealership name to John Nolan Ford. At the time, the dealership was located at the corner of Madison & Grandin Roads in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Soon after taking over as the owner-dealer, he began making plans to move the dealership to a larger, more modern location that could better serve the community and John Nolan Ford moved to Ridge and Highland Avenue in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood of Cincinnati in 1973.

Under his leadership, John Nolan Ford became one of the top-performing dealerships in the region, winning every customer service satisfaction and sales award offered by Ford. He served on the National Dealer Council, was Chairman of the Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association and Chairman of the Ford Dealer Advertising Fund. He also led a national advertising standards team and was honored with a standing ovation after delivering a speech to the Ford dealers in Canada. The dealership's well-known slogan, "A Good Deal Better," reflected John's commitment to honesty and integrity, values he instilled in his staff and family members by encouraging them to always "take the high road" with customers.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Michael and Mary (McHugh) Nolan; his brother, Joseph Nolan and his sisters, Margaret "Peggy" (Ed) Donnellon, Helen (Frank) Kopp and Patricia (Robert) Engel. In addition to his wife, Doris, John was also survived by his children, Karen Michalski of Glencoe, Kentucky; Michael Nolan of Florence, Kentucky; Barbara Nolan Jones (Jeff) of Union, Kentucky and Robert Nolan (Rebecca) of Villa Hills, Kentucky. He is also survived by his dearly loved stepchildren, Pamela (AJ) Jabbour, Patrick (Laura) Sowers, Curry (Sarah) Meece, Greg (Lynn) Meece. Mark (Kim) Meece, Les (Djuanna) Samuels, Ellen (Lee) Samuels, Brad (Cindy) Samuels and Elizabeth Hamilton; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family appreciates your thoughts and prayers. Flowers are welcomed; however, memorials may be made to CASA of the Northern Bluegrass Region, 500 Thomas More Parkway, Suite 4, Crestview Hills, Kentucky. This is an organization John felt strongly about as they advocate for abused & neglected children in the northern Kentucky and surrounding areas, and this is the company his daughter, Barb Nolan Jones, has been associated with since she "retired" from the automobile business.

A Celebration of Life / Irish Wake will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 2 – 6 p.m. at Triple Crown County Club in Union, Kentucky. This will include family and honored guests speaking at 3 p.m. A private burial at St. Mary's Cemetery for immediate families is being arranged by Swindler & Currin Funeral Home.