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Allen C. Kane Jr. | Company executive, 86

Allen C. Kane Jr., 86, formerly of Nether Providence, a retired gum company executive and a golfer, died of an apparent heart attack Sunday at White Horse Village, a retirement community in Newtown Square.

Allen C. Kane Jr.
Allen C. Kane Jr.Read more

Allen C. Kane Jr., 86, formerly of Nether Providence, a retired gum company executive and a golfer, died of an apparent heart attack Sunday at White Horse Village, a retirement community in Newtown Square.

For more than 40 years, Mr. Kane was a purchasing agent for Frank H. Fleer Co. He retired as a Fleer vice president in 1986. The North Philadelphia chewing-gum manufacturer introduced baseball trading cards in 1923 and in 1928 marketed the first bubble gum.

Mr. Kane, whose father taught him to play golf, won two club championships at Tully-Secane Country Club in his 20s. In 1968 and 1973, he won club championships at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Delaware County. He won many tournaments at the club, his son Allen III said, and also won Golf Association of Philadelphia inter-club matches. For 30 years he was a member of the Ozone Club, a golf match society. He played until last summer.

"It was thrilling to watch his great ball-striking ability," his son said.

Mr. Kane served on committees for the American Cancer Society. He chaired the finance committee and was a member of the vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church in Swarthmore. He also sang in the church choir and in the chorus and the barbershop quartet of the Valley Voices of Rose Valley. He volunteered to drive area residents to medical appointments.

He was a graduate of Lansdowne High School and earned a bachelor's degree at night from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his son, Mr. Kane is survived by his wife of 53 years, Elizabeth Wilson Kane; a daughter, Caroline; another son, Peter; a sister; and a grandson.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at White Horse Village Auditorium, 535 Gradyville Rd., Newtown Square.