GEORGE V. “GEE GEE” KANE, JR.
1925-2018
George V. Kane, Jr. passed away peacefully on Monday, the 22nd of January 2018, at the age of 92.
He is survived by his dearly beloved wife of 67 years, Alafair Benbow (who he affectionately referred to as “Rainbow”). He is also survived by daughters Jennifer Kane Hensley and husband Tom, Lida Kane Arendale and husband Bruce and son George V. Kane III and wife Susanna. He had nine grandchildren: Alafair Arendale Hotze (Bruce), Katie Arendale Kampfer (Trey), Avery Hollan Arendale, Thomas Barron Hensley (Katie), George Brian Hensley, Emily Hollan Hensley, George Harrison Kane, Walker Hollan Kane, and Denman Lawrence Kane. George was also blessed with two great grandchildren, Henry Hotze and Lida Beth Hotze. His brother, Kinney Kane with his wife Tyra of Comfort, Texas survives him along with his two children and their three children as well as his sister, Virginia Ryan from Lake Oswego Oregon, with her three daughters and their families.
George was born on the 7th of June 1925, in Houston, to George V. Kane, Sr. and Carrie Mae Kinney Kane. He attended Houston public schools and graduated from Lamar Senior High School. He attended his first year of college at New Mexico Military Institute where he was elected to the National Honor Society and awarded “Best New Cadet” in his troop. He then enlisted in the Navy B-12 Program, attended Rice Institute, The U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Notre Dame, and served as an engineering officer on the USS Admiral W.S. Benson transport ship in the South Pacific. He ultimately earned an engineering degree from Rice in 1948 where he was elected to Tau Beta Pi, a national honorary engineering fraternity. He spent three years at Kelly Manufacturing Co. as a production control engineer and later, with his father, established an insurance brokerage firm entitled George V. Kane, & Co. He ultimately became Vice-Chairman of AON Corporation and finally retired in 1991. He was a loyal employer and always took time to help those around him that needed a lift.
He was a member of the Houston Country Club, a former director of the Houston Association of Insurance Agents, former Legislative Chairman of the Texas Association of Insurance Agents, former vestryman at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, and former director of River Oaks and Compass Banks.
George always handled himself as a gentleman. He was kind, loyal, and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He had a great appreciation for music and loved to sing, dance, play the guitar, drums and harmonica. He felt the closest to God in the outdoors and loved hunting and fishing throughout his life, creating many fond memories with his family and friends. He also loved taking his children horseback riding at the farm in Waller County and water skiing on Lake Conroe.
The family would most graciously like to acknowledge sincere appreciation for such wonderful caregivers as Keidra Ames, Tesia Pierre Barr, Ofelia Herrera, Pat Lipscomb, Alicia Pena, and the late Margaret Green, all of whom we could not have done without, as well as Dr. John Eichelberger and Dr. Suzanne Lasek for their loving care. Lastly, to Jency and Stan, thank you.
Friends are cordially invited to greet the family during a memorial reception being held from five o’clock in the afternoon until half-past seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 29th of January, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
At a later date the family will gather for a private memorial service.
In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, memorial contributions in George’s name may be directed to The Church of Saint John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX, 77019; to The Front Porch, 209 W. 27th St., Austin, TX, 78705; or to Rice University, Office of Development and Alumni Relations, 6100 Main MS 81, Houston, TX, 77005.